This review in particular is going to b e especially hard for me to write, being one of the few movies I’ve seen that’s left me shaking afterwards. It’s an extremely chilling effect, thinking you’ve been desensitized and then learning that the real truth is actually very close to home. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California share a unique position in their nation’s geography, and Sicario plays well on this. But this isn’t a true story by any means, or at least one that can be proven true, but it was obvious to me that Taylor Sheridan, writer for Sicario, as well as Sons of Anarchy, did his research.
We like to perceive the world around us one way or the other, depending mostly on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist. Sicario paints the picture like it, through its ups and downs, it’s a roller coaster ride that will take you for a spin. The lack of spin in the telling of this story is what sets it apart from others in its genre. Besides the intrigue, you get some reasonable beautiful aerial shots of Mexico, the border, and the neighborhoods and communities that essentially make up the real boots on the ground in the fight both with and against the war on drugs. It’s a constant struggle that’s outlined in Sicario and made into somewhat of a learning experience for the viewer.
Sicario stars Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin. Those names alone were enough to make me shiver going into the movie, and boy were they ice cold in their performances. It may have been fictionalized, but it certainly was not your typical Hollywood sensationalism often seen in film.
There is a lot at stake for Sicario. Hollywood is always under fire for being biased towards entertainment, but there was no need for Sicario, as it is a foundation-shaking experience for any viewer, regardless of where you live. Director Denis Villeneuve trumps his previous films with emotion and drama that is much like Enemy and Prisoners, but instead develops these characters and how they appear on screen with superb but minute detail for a story that has no end. Even the characters that only appear briefly get the superstar treatment from the viewer as being seen as the most important person in the movie when they are on the screen.
Stand out performances by supporting roles Maximiliano Hernández and Daniel Kaluuya.
See this movie. Learn something about your own surroundings. Keep in mind when watching Sicario that this content is something Dallas and much of Texas is greatly affected by. But I will be honest, Sicario put the fear of Jesus in me. So be warned. It’s in theaters nationwide now and is sure to make a conscious impact in our society, or maybe we can only hope. Check out the official trailer below:
