Keep Telling YourselfIt's Only a MovieIt's Only a MovieIt's Only a Movie

Rating: 8/10 (1 March 2016)

This is a Thriller that disconnects as it employs the Mission of a group of Affiliated, but Not quite Affiliated, Government Agencies and its enigmatic Personnel. Grounded in a Real-Life "War on Drugs" with Illegal Immigration connections and Failed Law Enforcement policies and Political Posturing making the Headlines Daily.
What DOES NOT make the Headlines is what is beneath the Black of the Black Ops raids that barely Admit that the Constitution or current Laws even Exist and if they do Exist it is for Public Consumption and Appeasement and have Little to do with these "Above the Law", or to be more Precise, "Below the Law" tactics.
It is a Film that is Surreal and None of what happens appears to be Logical or Documentarian. From the opening Scene of a Raid on an American Home (owned by a Drug Lord, one of many it says). What one finds on the Inside is of the Horror Movie variety and sets the Tone for the Film. Being a Horror Movie wrapped in Butcher Paper, portraying Both Sides as Butchers.
Emily Blunt is the Voice of Reason trying to be heard in a Vacuum of Violence, Bloodshed and Torture that renders the Environment Unable to Resonate with Reason. Benicio del Toro is the Centerpiece that the Movie finds its motivational Mores.
The Cinematography and Musical Score are twin layers that Mesmerize and Pulsate the Patina of another World, or perhaps another Dimension. This is Key, because it works so well, and is so Effective in Isolating the Events to another Place, and it is that Detachment from Reality, and the Unreal that is Acceptable to the Masses as a Feeling of "This isn't really happening, it's only a Movie."
There was a Movie that used that Tagline (The Last House on the Left, 1972) "Keep Telling Yourself...It's only a Movie, It's only a Movie".
That was a Low-Budget Horror, Grindhouse Flick. But that was then and This is Now. "Sicario" Haunts and is one Scary Movie...So Keep Telling Yourself