The
'Not-So-Critical' Critic:
on
SICARIO (2015, 121 minutes, R)
The
Quick of It -
Director
Denis Villeneuve just might be making some waves before his possible
involvement in the upcoming BLADE RUNNER project. SICARIO is an intense action-thriller centering on the 'War
Against Drugs'... or sorta. I would say
more about the plot but I think it would be better to experience it for
yourself. The bigger surprise to me is
the writer behind the project, Taylor Sheridan. You might recognize, but doubtful, the name as the deputy chief
from 'Sons of Anarchy', Deputy Chief David Hale. Sheridan did have one hiccup that didn't making sense and
probably should have been corrected to make the story more realistic, but
hey... whatever. His crafting of the
story with an acute sense of plot building and Villeneuve's incorporation of
visual tension through the use of intermittent shots showing motion within
stillness, or the reverse, made this film work far beyond the typical 'drug
raid' extravaganza. Another nifty set
of shots was the idea of individuals being introduced into the story as almost
faceless apparitions, the concept that there are people out there like these
representations but you only hear about them.
The muddled reflections in glass, the silhouette with back turned, or
blocked angled shots to the speaker added to the continued theme of being in
the dark on what exactly is happening to our FBI agent, Kate Macer (Emily
Blunt), while holding on to this rollercoaster ride of bullets and blow. Each character in the film, large and small,
came to life with great acting, and a chance to show their talent within
intense exchanges and awkward situations.
Josh Brolin may have been at the forefront but it was Benicio Del Toro
who ends up stealing the show by the closing credits. For a movie that falls into a flooded genre, it stands out as one
of the must sees.
Grade:
A-
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