Grim drugs bust drama

Rating: 7/10 (10 October 2015)

There are aspects to this film that resonate not only with the South American drugs war but also the grim events playing out in the middle east. As such, the film sets a terrible scene through whose colouring we are to view the rather too idealistic 'law enforcement' intentions of the female FBI agent. It is this character, played admirably by Blunt, that is the weakest link. This character seems incapable of asking questions, of making intelligent assessments of what is going on around her and, at one point, is reliant on a much more junior operative to do what she should have done. We are then supposed to believe that this character knows no self-defence moves and nearly gets herself murdered. To cap it all, whilst refusing to 'sign' a false declaration on grounds of principle nearly does the most foul of deeds - shooting a man in the back. Ridiculous, and really takes the edge off what should have been a really hard hitting, realistic and thrilling drama. Benicio Del Toro pulls off the most impressive performance of all as Alejandro. Well done.