An incredibly intense and unique film

Rating: 8/10 (10 August 2016)

Sicario was one of the most overlooked movies of 2015. It was given little recognition at the Oscars, yet was far more entertaining than many of the other nominees (I'm looking at you, Bridge of Spies). Sicario is a contemporary movie set in the drug-ridden streets of Mexico. It is a simple, relatively small-scale movie, but very entertaining. The opening of Sicario unfolds at such an intense level that it seems impossible for director Villeneuve to sustain it, let alone build on it, but somehow he manages to do just that. The edging tension building up throughout the movie is the product of some very strong directing, which is evident throughout the movie. The movie is relentless in its tension, which doesn't cease until the credits role.
The cast is also one of the movie's strongest points. Emily Blunt is a fantastic lead, with a great realism to her character. Benicio Del Toro's acting is strong also, as he plays a mysterious and almost creepy assassin with next to no empathy. But perhaps Josh Brolin plays the most memorable character. Witty, passionate and surreal, Josh Brolin truly shines here. The most annoying part is that Jon Bernthal, who is listed as the 5th top star here on IMDb, is unfortunately in less than ten minutes of the movie. It seems bizarre that they would hire such a great, upcoming actor behind roles such as The Punisher and Shane Walsh (not to mention some big, Oscar winning movies like The Wolf of Wall Street) and barely even use him. Still, his brief appearance is still noteworthy.
It's hard to find fault with Sicario. On the level of craft and performances, it's spotless. If you're looking for a great meaning or message, you'll be disappointed here. The movie would perhaps benefit from not being so small-scale, as by the end there is a feeling that it all didn't amount to much. Still, it's an edge-of-your-seat thriller that is sure to stick with you for a while.