Sicario Haunts My Dreams

Sicario, the latest release from up and coming director Dennis Villenueve (Prisoners) has stayed with me ever since I saw it about a week ago.  From the harrowing opening sequence to its open-ended finish, Sicario stands out as a powerful representation of how futile America's longest war (The war on drugs) really is.  This is required viewing as awards season kicks into high gear.

At first viewing, this film could frustrate viewers since it seems to leave the audience slightly out of the loop.  We see the story through Emily Blunt's no-nonsense FBI Agent as she tries to track down the people responsible for the devastating death toll that opens the movie.  She joins an off the books strike team led by the impeccable Josh Brolin.  He plays the leader of a shadow government agency and possesses a rather loose sense of morals when it comes to taking down the cartels.  She often asks, quite literally, what the F is going on.

This is where the film shines.  It perfectly encapsulates the futility and brutality of the war on drugs.  It asks whether the fight is worth fighting, and ultimately questions whether our approach is even working or worth fighting.  This film doesn't sugarcoat it.  In fact, it very subtly suggests that a more nuanced (and yes, morally loose) approach is the way to go.

I think the real highlights of this film are the action sequences.  There's a breathtaking prisoner exchange sequence that leads to an incredibly tense shoot out at the Mexican/American border.  Blunt's character is almost breathless as the world seems to move in double time around her.  She (Or the US Government) is almost always a step behind the cartels.  Her group is surrounded by would-be attackers seemingly everywhere she looks.  After the shootout, both Blunt and the audience are finally able to breathe.  There are multiple sequences in this film that will leave you gasping for air.  Villenueve can stage a shootout with he best of them, and I'm excited to see where he takes us next.

The other highlight of this film is the brilliance of Benicio Del Toro.  As my friend Adam said, Del Toro shines as a broken man, who will do what it takes to avenge his family's death.  I don't want to ruin it, but there is a scene at a dinner table that I can't get out of my head.

Sicario is available for purchase and rental.  I hope it finds the audience it deserves.  It definitely will make my top 10 of 2015 (coming soon).  Check it out today!