A Deliriously Thrilling Ride

Rating: 9/10 (21 October 2015)

Director Denis Villeneuve is no stranger to dark, gritty and compelling thrillers. His whole filmography to date is almost solely comprised of them. 'Sicario' proves that even if this is well trodden ground, it does not matter when the film itself is this riveting to watch.
When FBI Agent Kate Macer is selected as part of a task force to combat the war against drugs in Mexico she will find her ethics and morals challenged. It is all too soon when she must accept the horrors and the line between corruption and justice.
What's striking about 'Sicario' is its approach to its subject matter. Not many Hollywood films would open with a tense scene of a horrifying slaughter house. But then Villeneuve has never been one to use clichés from the genre, he would much rather subvert them. From the Director that brought us 'Prisoners' it would be expected for the cast to show their value. Emily Blunt as Macer is in way over her head, she cannot even comprehend the horror of what is going on behind the scenes. She helps convey the intensity of her character and her ongoing search for the truth. Everyone in supporting roles from Josh Brolin to Benicio Del Toro outline their character traits so that they never feel underdeveloped.
Roger Deakin's cinematography has to be commented on. From the vastness and washed out colours of Mexico to the bright blue and secure safety of the Border of America just beyond the horizon.
The music swells and it made my hands shake with nervousness and my forehead sweat as if a tap had been turned on. Johann Johannsson's score is a masterclass in what well composed music can do for a film and most importantly the impact it can have on a viewer.
Although I would love to delve into the inner workings of 'Sicario' like the sick and demented maze that it is. I will not. I just refuse to spoil the twists and my advice is to go in blind. I did and I was thoroughly scared, thrilled and impressed throughout its runtime. It's hard to remember a film where the direction was so outstanding and superb that it made me feel smart for figuring the film out. Yet 'Sicario' is ultimately unpredictable. You could not plot out its beats from start to finish because it has so many twists, that it's impossible to see all of them (if any) coming in advance.
'Sicario' is a rewarding experience. Rewarding for the viewer that wants to have their intelligence applauded. It lets you figure out the film on your own without telling all. It succeeds on many fronts, mainly because we anticipate the story, tension and character arcs. In all honesty the ending feels unsatisfactory but the thrills that it generates along the way make it all too easy to push aside any potential flaws that are highlighted along the way. 'Sicario' firmly cements Villeneuve's incredible talent as a Director whom is sure to define this generation of thrillers, the same way that David Fincher defined the last.