Sicario

In Mexico, Sicario means Hitman

This tense thriller from director Denis Villeneuve (Enemy and Prisoners) is a stylish and very gritty picture, which at times makes you almost feel dirty. This really comes across great with Roger Deakins’ cinematography (Shawshank and Skyfall).

Sicario stars Emily Blunt as Kate Macer, an FBI Agent who is thrust into a special team to smash or marginally disrupt the Mexican drug cartel.  She does a great job of bringing the straight cut, by-the-book agent to the screen, as she is pushed from her comfort zone and forced into a grey world of blurred lines.

Benicio Del Toro plays Alejandro, and Josh Brolin plays Matt Graver. Both are CIA Agents and both do a stellar job, involved in all the action sequences brilliantly.  Del Toro especially brings his usual flare, and throughout, really brings to screen his character’s internal turmoil and drive to destroy the cartel.

This film really builds its suspense well and was clearly well-structured before shouting “action”.  Some will find this slow at times and may feel 2 hours is a little lengthy.  However, I truly enjoyed this film and definitely recommend it.

A definite, award-grabbing movie. I give this tense and gritty crime thriller a solid 8 out of 10.