Observant and Effective.

Rating: 10/10 (27 October 2015)

Sicario (2015): Dir: Denis Villeneuve / Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya, Maximiliano Hernandez: Gut wrecking action film with a title that translate as "hitman". This is one of the best action films of the decade. It stars Emily Blunt as Kate Macer, an agent whose skill is sought after by the CIA Special Activities Division who are travelling to Mexico to track down a drug lord whose actions are feared and evident by the bodies strewn about. Emily Blunt delivers one of her best performances as a woman desiring to make a difference but appalled by how this CIA division handles their task without regard to civilians. As Kate, she questions herself especially when she unknowingly leads a corrupt cop to her hotel room. She learns that her job is surrounded by corruption that she cannot counter even when she aims a gun in its direction. Josh Brolin plays Matt Graver who leads the operation and whose actions are questioned by Kate. He is cynical and deliberate but intelligent in terms of pointing out potential mistakes that Kate falls into. Benicio del Toro plays another agent whose wife and daughter were murdered by the individual that they are seeking. He has brutal methods of abstracting information and an unforgiving aim once he finds his target. Daniel Kaluuya plays Kate's concerned partner whose presence is ignored by Graver. Maximiliano Hernandez plays a Mexican police officer whose family watch him get further involved in the corrupt nature of his job. Explosive action directed by Denis Villenuve of Maelstrom. Kate learns the unattractive side of a profession she aimed to serve. Score: 10 / 10