Tense and Gritty

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2019)

I'm convinced that Denis Villeneuve can't make a bad movie. The man is a genius, and this film is a perfect showcase of his talents. The film is slow and methodical, building tension and dread as it moves towards its disturbing finale. This is perhaps the best drug trafficking movie since "Traffic" (2000), which, coincidentally, Benicio Del Toro won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. "Sicario" is a ruthless, violent, and grim thriller that is crafted with such skill and precision that it's darn near impossible to look away. Some people I've talked to complain about the pacing of this movie, or the way that the action scenes aren't actiony enough for them. I urge those people to watch this again. Subtle dialogue, incredible direction and acting, and a disturbingly dark ending make for one of the most taught thrillers I've seen in years.