Almost

Rating: 7/10 (4 November 2015)

Sicario reminded me that it is still possible to be thrilled at the cinema. There is brooding, understated acting galore and dramatic set-pieces that don't feel like "set-pieces" ie they just naturally come from the story.
As a result, the flaws within the story don't undermine the film as much as they should. Emily Blunt plays Kate Mercer, a kidnap rescue SWAT specialist brought into a cross-agency narco-operation. In theory, it's her skills that need to be brought to bear on the op, but actually they don't need her, even as a patsy. She is used as bait at one stage, but this is an in-the-moment improvisation that doesn't really explain why she was brought in in the first place.
Her sole purpose seems to be being screwed over by her own team leaders and to find out what the real dark purpose of the operation is. In fact, she ends as she begins - screwed over, which is unsatisfying from a story point of view. From the point of view of the operation it succeeds exactly as it was meant to - thanks to the relentless Alejandro (Beneficio del Toro).
Still, it does grip throughout. It feels authentic. The direction and acting is superb and it is so refreshing to see films made about real issues affecting us now.