Artistically... it may be the best film of 2015...

Rating: 8/10 (8 January 2016)

This film just looks amazing. A lot of care went into this.
I wish our lead here(Emily Blunt) got the same development and fully-fleshed-out journey throughout the film as Melissa Desormeaux- Poulin did in Villeneuve's "Incendies".
Blunt's character here is a little too weak for my tastes. It kinda messes with the plausibility and effectiveness here. One begs to ask the question why she would ever be asked to come along. I mean it seems obvious in the film that her character is in over her head, and it really makes things a bit of a mess for me as the viewer.
Shame too because this film is quite simply amazing. The cinematography is incredible. Villenueve's grasp of moving action and steady, almost Mallick-like steady pans with vibrant color and attention to detail is truly amazing.
If you've ever wanted a film to be the epitome of an incredible 'shooter game' - then this is it. SOme moments late in the film had me standing up in front of the television with anticipation and excitement.
As a thriller, it works because the action is done so well, and because the 'revenge quotient" is high.
The film WILL do nothing but further excite those in anticipation of Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2" project. He's the right man for the job. ANd this film does nothing to change the fact that he is EASILY one of the top 1 or 2 directors to watch right now.
WHile the characters here lack a little depth, and the story doesn't really know where to put them most of the time, the film still works.
One of the most visually stunning films in a few years. A couple of years ago, slammed behind his other film "Prisoners" and another film with similar strengths and weaknesses, "Place Beyond the Pines", "Sicario" may not even make the top 10, but for 2015 this is EASILY top 10, and sitting on the 're-watch as soon as possible' list.
I saw a film that was also supported by it's look last night, "The Walk". It also lacked some character development and had some tonal issues.. and it looked good. BUT, "Sicario" went above the 'grand look" and leaked way over into artistic masterpiece territory.
I don't know how 'accurate' this is in terms of subject matter, but it certainly seems very realistic. I just wish they would have made Emily a little more of a tough-girl.
He cared about this one. 83/100
You'll like this if you liked:Babel(about even), Prisoners(a little better), Trade(not as good), or Eden(not quite as good but decent sleeper to try out).
2015 has been slow to come around, but certainly it could be argued that "Fury Road" and "Sicario" are two of the more visually stunning films of this century. I would have loved to have seen this on IMAX.