“Sicario” (2015) written by Taylor Sheridan, directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin / Z-View

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Sicario (2015)

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan

Stars: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Victor Garber, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Donovan, Raoul Max Trujillo, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Kevin Wiggins, Edgar Arreola, Dylan Kenin, John Trejo and Daniel Kaluuya

Tagline: The border is just another line to cross.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Kate Macer is an FBI agent recruited to join a US task force fighting the war on drugs along the Mexican border.  After joining Kate learns things aren’t as they seem and lines are being crossed that bring into question her ethics and place her life in danger.

Thoughts…

Sicario was nominated for three 2016 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Achievement in Sound Editing – Alan Robert Murray
  • Nominee for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score – Jóhann Jóhannsson
  • Nominee for Best Achievement in Cinematography – Roger Deakins

Sicario is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years.  Taylor Sheridan creates a smart screenplay with action, drama and a story that sticks with you.

Denis Villeneuve’s direction makes every scene interesting.  Everything in this movie works – the cinematography, the sound, and the actors are all perfectly cast.

Benicio Del Toro felt that in the original screenplay, his character spoke too much.  He approached director, Denis Villeneuve, with his concerns.  Villeneuve agreed and estimated that 90% of his dialogue was cut which made his character much more mysterious and interesting.

Villeneuve told the movie’s composer, Jóhann Jóhannsson, that he wanted the score to contain the sound of a “threat” like that found in Jaws.  Jóhannsson came through like gangbusters.

Sicario gets my highest recommendation.

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