Sicario is a film one never forgets. Brutal horror of a Mexican drug cartel tracked down by a wily and savvy Intel Agency Contractor (Josh Brolin) with an American Cowboy my-way-or-highway playbook, two FBI agents (Emily Blunt and Daniel Kaluuya) about to get a first-hand indoctrination into the front-line multi-agency specialty-team of drug-lord hunters, and a mysterious Mexican subject-matter advisor (Benicio Del Toro) bent on delivering his version of justice and personal revenge set the stage for one Hell of a ride over the border - the brilliant subtlety of the scenes and editing serves only to magnify the plot and action.
Stunning Cinematography highlights the scenic beauty of the country besieged with the contradicting brutality of the Mexican drug trade in the "land of wolves". Eerie moody music and superior sound editing escalates the tension that builds throughout. Genius editing creates a droning non-stop flow of that tension, an essential element to the success of any thriller.
Sicario was compelling evidence in 2015 (one of the best and most competitive years of the new Millennium for film releases with 'Spotlight' and 'Bridge of Spies' also in the same year) that Denis was one of the industry's very best newly emerged Directors - one who was most-likely to put out future films on an epic Hall of Fame level. His 2016 film 'Arrival' was an interesting follow-up to Sicario, taking him into the sci-fi realm with an intelligent screenplay and once again moody cinematography and editing.
However, his 2017 film 'Blade Runner 2049' derailed his momentum with its often too-long droning scenes and lack of effective story-boarding, sending us a confusing message.
The 'Dune' trilogy is now Villeneuve's main focus, and its first episode not clearly indicating whether Sicario was Denis' crowning achievement or a taste of greatness that lay ahead in the remaining Dune entries. Dune 1 was hoped by many sci fi fans to be an all-time sci fi achievement in film, but in many ways disappointed, and was more like an extended trailer for the epic ("sets the stage" as Denis later stated). Dune's catch phrase at the end of Dune "It's only the beginning" may be an indication of much greater things ahead - Let's hope it is that, and not a warning.
For now at least (early July, 2023), Sicario is clearly Denis' best film - a MUST-SEE movie.
NOTE: The realistic and brutal violence of this film and situations are intense, and NOT appropriate for those under 16 (or those easily affected by such).
If one wonders why the USA puts forth so much effort in the War on Drugs on and over our Southern border, this film illuminates the rationale in clear stark light.
👍👍
Stunning Cinematography highlights the scenic beauty of the country besieged with the contradicting brutality of the Mexican drug trade in the "land of wolves". Eerie moody music and superior sound editing escalates the tension that builds throughout. Genius editing creates a droning non-stop flow of that tension, an essential element to the success of any thriller.
Sicario was compelling evidence in 2015 (one of the best and most competitive years of the new Millennium for film releases with 'Spotlight' and 'Bridge of Spies' also in the same year) that Denis was one of the industry's very best newly emerged Directors - one who was most-likely to put out future films on an epic Hall of Fame level. His 2016 film 'Arrival' was an interesting follow-up to Sicario, taking him into the sci-fi realm with an intelligent screenplay and once again moody cinematography and editing.
However, his 2017 film 'Blade Runner 2049' derailed his momentum with its often too-long droning scenes and lack of effective story-boarding, sending us a confusing message.
The 'Dune' trilogy is now Villeneuve's main focus, and its first episode not clearly indicating whether Sicario was Denis' crowning achievement or a taste of greatness that lay ahead in the remaining Dune entries. Dune 1 was hoped by many sci fi fans to be an all-time sci fi achievement in film, but in many ways disappointed, and was more like an extended trailer for the epic ("sets the stage" as Denis later stated). Dune's catch phrase at the end of Dune "It's only the beginning" may be an indication of much greater things ahead - Let's hope it is that, and not a warning.
For now at least (early July, 2023), Sicario is clearly Denis' best film - a MUST-SEE movie.
NOTE: The realistic and brutal violence of this film and situations are intense, and NOT appropriate for those under 16 (or those easily affected by such).
If one wonders why the USA puts forth so much effort in the War on Drugs on and over our Southern border, this film illuminates the rationale in clear stark light.
👍👍