@@holddowna That scene, and the descent into darkness at dusk, before the tunnel sequence. Just compositional perfection. There is a follow-up movie that is decent, though as you might expect it doesn't quite recapture the lightning in a bottle of this film (Some returning cast, but different production team so you miss out on the DV/Deakins magic). Villeneuve is like top 3 of my favorite modern directors. Prisoners is excellent as you mentioned, and he also did Dune which also features Josh Brolin and, while lacking Deakins, still has great cinematography.
Watching this right now I realized Alejandro was actually trying to help Kate at the end in his own warped way. Signing that document saves her life, but if she signs it of her own accord she compromises herself. So he forces her at gun point which allows her a shred of twisted peace. The layers to this film are intense!
Absolutely, that's always been my main takeaway from that scene. Alejandro shows her a kindness by taking away the impossible choice of signing the document. If it's a binary of either sign the document or get one in the head right now, that's only a decision if you're Ned Stark noble to a fault.
He also disassembles her weapon, which buys him time to get down stairs while she has to reassemble it if she chooses to use it against him and makes her put her prints on top of his. @@liquidpza
I think it's first time in history of cinema when the main character kill all entire family of bad guy, including wife and kids, for revenge. Usually the message is ''We are better then them, so we wont kill their kids!'' but not in this movie! And at beginning I thought she is the main character, but at the end I understood Alejandro actually is the one!
The movie has so many subtle body language and facial cues. At the end when Allejandro says "Don't forget about my daughter" and they show Fausto Alarcon's wife dip her head in resignation... she knows in that moment that she's done and what he's there to do given what her husband did to his child.
I love Denis' films because he's so patient in his storytelling. He's one of the few modern big budget directors that truly allows for nuance and complexity in all his scenes. Like David Fincher, everything from camera placement, to editing, to color grading, to musical cues all feels like a CHOICE to serve the material and the deeper themes. As the ending shows, he's also not afraid to leave the audience with more questions than answers. When the film ends you feel and understand the true impact a drug war has and the cyclical nature of corruption. Masterful storytelling. Watching you perceptively experience it is always a treat and I thank you for your respect and love for the medium :)
Thanks for this awesome comment! It’s so true! I’ve been watching a lot of 70s/80s films and see how he is influenced by it. How good story telling is told. Truly worth watching every minute
This was a really good reaction to watch, you are good. I would highly recommend Denis Villeneuves Oscar nominated 2010 movie "Incendies. It will blow you away!
Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind River all written by Taylor Sheridan, work as a loose trilogy examining the modern American West. All are excellent movies with stellar casts and well worth watching.
Hell or High Water was superb, and got very little attention when it came out. Outstanding cast, beautifully filmed and an excellent storyline. Great movie! I’d love to see an Ames reaction to it.
Love both Hell or Highwatsr and Wind River. Saw both in the theater which really shines with Wind River. Taylor Sheridan is a modern day western writer. I’ll watch everything he does.
I've been pretty impressed with his writing for Yellowstone too. Looking at the core of the character dynamics in this film I reckon he probably did write Kate's character as female from the beginning.
I honestly never thought of it like that…being from Arizona and working throughout the western states now that gave me a good insight on what you’re talking about
I saw a great video essay on Sicario that shows how everyone thinks she is the main character but in reality Alejandro is the main character of you follow the screenplay story arch structure. The narrative switches from the story being told from her perspective to Alejandro’s at the end of the tunnel scene. That’s when SHE realizes what is finally going on and that’s when WE realize what’s finally going on.
The border crossing scene is of course awesome, but I really love the line in the interrogation scene, “what do you keep looking at me for? No habla ingles, remember?”
I played as an extra in this movie. We didn't get paid but we did get free food. Taco trucks every day. Everyone couldn't stop staring at Emily Blunt. Everyone had a crush on her on the set. LOL.
a buddy of mine was also an extra on the flick... he told me the same thing. "dude, emily blunt is like.... beyond beautiful, so hot. like... dude.... you don't even know!!!" haha
The scene on the plane at the start where he wakes up suddenly and scares us was supposed to show a flash-back dream of his family getting killed, and the scene where he shoots her in the body armor and says "never ever point a gun at me again" (foreshadowing for end?) were supposed to have a long dialogue but Denis decided to leave both out for the sake of "less is more" storytelling. So good.
I love the mystery surrounding Benecio Del Toro and his character, you have no idea who he is or why he is there. But he is "the Sicario". And he has good reason for it
Emily is such a good actress, her facial expressions completely match her acting abilities and of course Benicio is perfect for this roll almost as good as his roll in Fear and Loathing in las Vegas.
An exceptional film that (as you said) marries great, compelling storytelling with superb acting & directing, beautiful panoramic cinematography & an ominous, foreboding score. One of my favorites OAT for sure👍
Great reaction, Ames. You are possibly the most patient reactor I've seen. Just absorbing what's happening and waiting for an opening to acknowledge it. So many spend so much time trying to predict what's going to happen next and talking over important dialogue or a subtle visual clue etc. Anyways.. you're right, they did a great job of establishing mood and keeping a subdued tone throughout the film. I was impressed with Emily Blunt. This may be the first and only thing I've seen her in. Josh Brolin and John Bernthal do a great job playing both good guys and heels, so you're never sure what to anticipate. This one was intense. I hope you had a glass of wine and chilled afterward. 😀
If you want another movie that makes you feel like this watch Wind River. It is every bit as emotional, but with even better cinematography and an even more personal story for the main characters.
I love both of these movies but saying that a movie shot by Ben Richardson has better cinematography than one shot by Roger Deakins is absolutely hilarious.
Everything Benicio Del Toro touch turns to gold, he's like King Midas. Another movie with Del Toro I'd recommend is "A Perfect Day", also starring Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko.
This film is an absolute masterclass in building tension. I love that you called out how simple and effective the filmmaking is after the opening sequence. It’s a great observation, and something I think the director has lost sight of a bit in his most recent work. Namely Dune, which I found to be overwrought and emotionally unaffecting on every level. This film on the other hand grips me with mortal terror for its characters and never lets go.
the last scene is brilliant: an illustration of prey and predator, before that a metaphor from Benicio about the “land of wolves”. Kate cannot shoot not because there is no opportunity - she simply cannot do it, even if she wants - the total powerlessness that tormented her throughout the film, and this scene of culmination... now she knows the enemy, but is even more powerless in front of him, her world has completely collapsed and there is no more hope. Benicio also wipes away her tears, which cements her in the subordinate and dependent position of “daughter”... Fantastic!;)
Top 3 neo-westerns for sure. Denis best work to date. I highly recommend Taylor Sheridan’s other works, Sicario is the first of his neo-western trilogy. Hell or High Water and Windriver being the other two. Excellent video.
One of Denis’ strengths as a visual storyteller is his use of thematic coloring and iconography. The colors blue and tan are used to represent the two opposing sides of the conflict of truth and secrecy which is why Alejandro wears both colors throughout the film. There’s also a US flag in the frame every time Kate is faced with a moral dilemma. And there’s a bunch of visual borders worked into the framing, some of them obvious, others not. The glass walls of the federal building where the agents keep Kate and Reggie in the dark of their plan while creating the illusion of transparency while letting Kate into their office to tell her only what they want her to know is just on of the many visual borders seen on screen.
The movie focuses on Kate's perspective but she is not the main character, Alejandro is. This is Alejandro's story. Kate stands for us, the viewers, who think that procedures and justice can still function within the rule of law. We are so naive, just like Kate. That's the real "twist" of the script.
Well, that's it. That does it. You are now my favorite movie reactor. This movie was so, so damn good and your reaction was the best. The soundtrack too right, so tense, so foreboding and threatening. Anyway, a tremendous movie and a fantastic reaction. You notice little things I really appreciate. Keep up the good work, you're the best.
The question Kate has to answer at the end of the movie is: "Does she want Alejandro out there fighting against the cartels his way, or does she want to shoot him in the back and become a cold blooded killer like he is?" Every character in this movie represents a different take on the question "Do the ends justify the means?" Matt Graver believes wholeheartedly that they do, and he is never in doubt about it. Alejandro Garcia used to believe in the law; he was a prosecutor, but after his family is killed, he decides that the ends of defeating the cartels and getting revenge for his family justifies performing the same act that made him who he is, killing a family. Kate Macer believes that the ends do not justify the means, but at the end of the movie, she is caught between two different questions about ends and means: first, does wanting to stop Alejandro from fighting the cartels justify murdering him in cold blood, and second, does wanting to put an end to cartel violence justify letting Alejandro continue fighting the war his way? In the end, she doesn't kill him, and he gets to continue fighting, which means that Kate, at least tacitly, believes that his ends justify his means. And the last scene in the movie, the soccer game, is not just showing that nothing has changed; it's actually symbolic foreshadowing about what happens in the world after the movie ends. The two teams represent the cartels and the forces fighting them. When the shooting starts, both teams stop playing, symbolizing what happened to the war now that the cartel leader Alejandro assassinated was killed. Eventually, someone, the police officer's son we've been following, starts playing again, symbolizing that eventually someone else will rise to take over the now leaderless cartel.
i am still ferm the army and gouvernments over the teritory are the one who needs to blame not the cartel itself... they allow shit to happen after all the "last boss" who control everything in a country is not only one person but the leaders who dictate what happens over theyr land or the next... so my point is if gouv. sends military trainded people, unanouced they can litearly obliterate everything whitch cartels stays for... they do not, like in this movie they try to play an act whitch for the public make it look like an "good act" but in the end a gouvernment over a teritory/state/country whatever dictates what happens and what factors of problems happen in and near theyr teritory and in the end they have the power to literaly eradicate evey god damn cartel king, leader boss if they send the freaking army to kill them... a group of mans even if they have heavy echipamnets and literaly big guns to fight they have no chance to win agains a god damn army and theyr "gaggets" ... the fact the gouvernments stay aside and let it happens bcz " money $$$", in my P.O.V they are the ultimate learders who refuse to protect and serv theyr citsens and the well being and health of a country or many others...
This right here. Kate wants to believe in the law, but she realizes there are limitations..Alejandro on the other hand feels the law is too slow on moving to stop the cartels, and with his loss he 100% sides with doing anything possible to take them out no matter what. It's an interesting dynamic. I feel some times that the law does move too slow in some instances, but in others not. I guess in extreme situations I will agree with Alejandro, but in others with how Kate feels. IMHO, I don't think either way is wrong, but it depends on the situation.
Deakins or Fraser--I'm not sure which I like more. Fraser's The Batman is so freaking excellent, as is his work on Dune. Deakins is just... a legend lol.
Quite a weak sequel with out of character decisions. A few great scenes but that is about it, better to skip it to keep the integrity of the characters in the first movie
This is the best reaction on this channel and simultanously the best reaction to this film overall, that I have seen to date. Amazing work. Especially how you picked up on so much of the subtler themes and the cinematography on first watch.
They did shoot the tunnel scene with thermal camera's. The scene where you could see the guys boot prints on the floor of the tunnel. They had to heat up a guy's boots with a heat gun and have him walk across the floor to get the effect.
I live in NM and it's pretty cool that alot of it is filmed in NM like that cheap motel is in Albuquerque NM but they tore it down so it ain't there anymore. Can't wait for you to react to the 2nd one.
Great reaction! Roger Deakins and Denis Villeneuve is a match made in heaven. You mentioned Prisoners early on and this is why it seemed familiar, they both worked on that film together.
Sicario is one of my favroite films Benicio Del Toro as Alejandro was just incredible, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin were so good too! but Benicio really stood out for me.
I kid you not, I only made it through about 5 minutes of this before I got the urge to go rewatch it for like the 5th time. Del Toro should have gotten a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Also fun fact, apparently Del Toro and Villaneuve worked to cut like 90% of Alejandro's dialogue from the original script in order to make him more mysterious. As much as I love Arrival and Prisoners, this might actually be Villaneuve's best movie.
Liked your reaction.... well edited, showing the best reaction points as well as key plot lines, with insightful comments, worthy credit to ALL the talent responsible for this brilliant work of art, without overdoing the chat, but most importantly, genuine full-on reactions that allow those of us following your video to re-live the emotions we felt when we first saw this masterpiece. I can see this Channel growing quickly.
When this film first came out, I was still at university and every time I've re-watched it since or seen someone else react to it for the first time, it feels like I only saw it yesterday even though it's been nearly 10 years since i graduated. I had a lot more time on my hands back then so you could say it was my peak movie watching period. I remember passing by my local cinema to see what was on at the time and I remember seeing the poster for this new film Sicario in the window. Even though I loved the cast, I wasn't that familiar with Denis Villeneuve's work at the time and the poster just made it look like a generic action film, so I initially gave it a pass. But then after a few weeks of it's release i started keeping tabs on the rave reviews it was getting and potential Oscar buzz, so I decided to bite the bullet and give it a chance one night. I remember coming out of the cinema afterwards feeling like I've never been happier to have been proven completely wrong about a film going in. Not only do I think this is one of Villeneuve's best films, but it was also the very first screenplay written by Taylor Sheridan (who played David Hale in Sons of Anarchy) who has gone on to have a brilliant writing/directing career with works like Hell or High Water, Wind River and the TV show Yellowstone; all of which I cannot recommend enough.
denis villeneuve has an impressively holistic approach to moviemaking. so many aspects of visuals, sound design, lighting, casting, story, script and direction seem so carefully chosen. i was also pleasantly surprised by "blade runner 2049". a few months ago i watched the very metaphorical movie "enemy" (2013) by him and starring jake gyllenhaal. it was a little confusing 😅 anyway, great reaction! i really appreciate how much you appreciate the subtle details that are so plentyful in villeneuve's movies.
Not a wasted shot in the movie, everything serves the story. I mean to have the black ops team as a metaphor literally disappear from the shadowy sunset into the dark to “operate” is just world class filmmaking. Really shows what happens when you have the talent both in front and behind the camera. Glad that Deakins finally got his Oscar with Blade Runner 2049 with Denis directing. It is kinda a travesty he was nominated 16 times before and not win. Should have won for this film, The Revenent is also well shot and I love Lubezki but I think with him being Mexican could appreciate how, the greatest challenge his home country faces, was masterfully executed in this film.
Whats crazy is that Kate is the only real source of contention within the movie. If she just went on every operator's dream team and played ball she wouldve been fine. But shes such a boy scout she gets herself strangled, beat, shot, etc.
One of my favorite movies! Great choice Ames! The cast is awesome and this story is fantastic! Luv benicio del toro and Emily Blunt! Sicario 2 is a must see! Also for another del toro and blunt movie watch The Wolfman! Thanks Ames!❤️💛
One of the best action movies in the past 10 years. I would say its near flawless from the storytelling/fimlcraft standpoint, the music is on point, its a bit silly on the tactical details when it comes to firefights ( not always but lots of weird stuff ) but that whole sequence as its building up to the border crossing is stellar. Great movie overall.
There's a track in the film's OST called "The Beast" which is this tense droning sound. It gives you the feeling that there is this villain or monster after you. The Beast only ever plays when U.S. Forces are in the scene.
29:14: also a brutal aspect of this plan, which is brilliantly and horrifying executed by Alejandro, he kills in such a way so that to most, it looks like warring factions of the same cartel or different cartels, did it…it also just so happens to be the best opportunity for his own goals to be met too. Smh. It’s a beyond terrible plan, yet nearly flawlessly done.😮
In my opinion, there are no other directors who use negative space as well as he does. He also never coddles the audience in his movies. He is not afraid to show instead of tell, and if you miss it you miss it.
Villeneuve is fast becoming my favorite director of all-time. In a sense he's just finding his stride and I can't wait to see what his future projects look like.
Part 2, the story and the soundtrack is pulse pounding. The music comp in #2 kept me so amped up with anticipation it was amazing. Some corny parts too, but you gotta watch.
masterpiece of a movie, not many good movies comes these decades, but this one was epic in every way, from dialogues, to action and soundtrack, tension was insane in shootout and dining scenes...
Yeah, love this film, great pick. Even in tactical gear Emily Blunt rocks it like it's Prada. Strong acting across the board with a great script, very ominous, the way it ends seems very realistic to how I imagine it would actually play out. Thanks Ames and Happy New Year Beautiful 😇😊
8:30, my wife is from El Paso which is close to Juarez. It's a place that Americans visit during daylight hours. These scenes in Juarez are very authentic. However, the Juarez Chamber of Commerce was upset that their city was portrayed this way. LOL.
The last scene shows that no matter what happens to any leader in the cartel they will be replaced and the machine will continue churning. There is no stopping it. Truly said what the everyday people must go through.
What is really shocking about this movie is that it has not been exaggerated. It's depiction of the cartels and how they operate along the border is very accurate.@@holddowna
I remember the moment when it hit me that this movie is not Kate's story but rather Alejandro's story. It may be told from the perspective of Kate but it's really Alejandro's story that the audience doesn't realize until the end of the movie or sometimes only after watching the movie multiple times. I read somewhere that during the scene when Alejandro gets startled by his nightmare on the flight to Juarez, Villeneuve considered showing flashbacks of Alejandro's life and fragments of the nightmare of his wife and daughter being murdered, but decided against it to keep the audience from figuring out who Alejandro is or what his role in the operation and the movie are. The audience knows there's something about Alejandro when you see him first appear and sense that he has some kind of traumatic past that he has nightmares about, but you don't know what about until the end of the movie. Brilliant storytelling and directing by Villeneuve.
16:16 that part is so clear and important yet it seems to go right over Kate’s head. He’s telling her they’re cool with it at the highest levels they just don’t want to be connected to it directly.
Often the so called “good” guys are driven by one of two things in these Hollywood scenarios. Duty Vs Honour. An honourable man would see the world bury rather than have his honour questioned whereas the Dutiful man would burn the evil alongside his honour for the good of society. Kate is one of those obnoxiously naive honour bound characters which was kind of annoying. I think that is how they should’ve made her character but let her evolve a bit as she saw some of the atrocities. But barring her character everything else was top notch about the first film. Second one was sloppy af though
Hell or High Water would be a great next Taylor Sheridan movie for you to check out. Super underrated, it came out during the "Marvel era" so it never got the attention it deserved, kinda like Sicario and Wind River, amazing cast, acting, story, etc.
The last scene of the movie where the kids are playing soccer and the parents are watching, when the shooting happens and they pause and then afterwards they keep playing like nothing happens, For me personally is a very hard hitting scene for me personally bacause that scene alone symbolizes how normal and used to it people from central and south america are use to this type of thing and me included but I always like meaning of it, outside from the storytelling sense too
@@holddownaAmes, I don’t think I would have watched this if you hadn’t picked it, and it was really good. Somehow, even with Kate getting almost choked to death, it seemed like she was always going to be ok, because it was more about the revenge story, than her, and they always seemed to need her around for validation of their actions. Also seemed like her eyes were our eyes and WE needed her to witness everything. There were a several really good scenes, but the two that stand out to me the most is when they were all driving into Mexico. Also, the sequence where Alejandro (a.k.a., Mexican. Rad Pitt), making his way to the table of his nemesis, was captivating. But i loved all the slow and scenic stuff too. The vibe of this movie reminded me of No Country For Old Men, where Brolin was awesome once again (not to mention how great he was in MIB 3 as well). Ugh, sorry I’m so wordy.
Depiction of El Paso and Juarez was pretty spot on for the time. I’m from El Paso Texas and I always thought it was cool to see my town in this film. Juarez isn’t as violent as it was 15-20 years ago now. But at one point it was the most dangerous city on the planet; ironically while El Paso is one of the safest metropolitan areas in the United States lol
One of my favorite films of all time, from my favorite director of all time. Sicario, Incendies, Prisoners and Blade Runner 2049 all land a spot in my top 10 films of all time. Villeneuve does NOT miss. Also, “it’s giving me Prisoners vibes”, is an astute observation. Both films have the same cinematographer! Roger Deakins, the greatest cinematographer/D.O.P. in cinema history.
The border crossing scene and the build up of tension culminating in the shootout is just flawless filmmaking
It’s absolute fantastic filmmaking. The way they shoot over Kate’s shoulder and establish the scene. Unreal! Thanks for watching!
@@holddowna That scene, and the descent into darkness at dusk, before the tunnel sequence. Just compositional perfection. There is a follow-up movie that is decent, though as you might expect it doesn't quite recapture the lightning in a bottle of this film (Some returning cast, but different production team so you miss out on the DV/Deakins magic). Villeneuve is like top 3 of my favorite modern directors. Prisoners is excellent as you mentioned, and he also did Dune which also features Josh Brolin and, while lacking Deakins, still has great cinematography.
Thanks. I filmed that
Filming is thanks to Roger deakins
@@freshoftheoven965 yep that’s me
Watching this right now I realized Alejandro was actually trying to help Kate at the end in his own warped way. Signing that document saves her life, but if she signs it of her own accord she compromises herself. So he forces her at gun point which allows her a shred of twisted peace. The layers to this film are intense!
Great comment! I love this insight
That was well said. Very well said. The logic of this film is impeccable .
@MrMarquis912 even the position he holds it in makes it look she had it in her own hand to off herself
Absolutely, that's always been my main takeaway from that scene. Alejandro shows her a kindness by taking away the impossible choice of signing the document. If it's a binary of either sign the document or get one in the head right now, that's only a decision if you're Ned Stark noble to a fault.
He also disassembles her weapon, which buys him time to get down stairs while she has to reassemble it if she chooses to use it against him and makes her put her prints on top of his. @@liquidpza
Benicio Del Toro should have won many awards for this role.
He was so good! The whole cast
He deserved an oscar for the ending alone.
I think it's first time in history of cinema when the main character kill all entire family of bad guy, including wife and kids, for revenge. Usually the message is ''We are better then them, so we wont kill their kids!'' but not in this movie! And at beginning I thought she is the main character, but at the end I understood Alejandro actually is the one!
I thought it was his best acting, at least that I've ever seen.
@@holddowna Yeah, Josh Brolin also really good in this movie.
The Cast just wow.
I remember watchin this on theater, i need to hold my pee from the half of film till the credit roll show up...
Wat a Masterpiece.!
The movie has so many subtle body language and facial cues. At the end when Allejandro says "Don't forget about my daughter" and they show Fausto Alarcon's wife dip her head in resignation... she knows in that moment that she's done and what he's there to do given what her husband did to his child.
I love Denis' films because he's so patient in his storytelling. He's one of the few modern big budget directors that truly allows for nuance and complexity in all his scenes. Like David Fincher, everything from camera placement, to editing, to color grading, to musical cues all feels like a CHOICE to serve the material and the deeper themes. As the ending shows, he's also not afraid to leave the audience with more questions than answers. When the film ends you feel and understand the true impact a drug war has and the cyclical nature of corruption. Masterful storytelling. Watching you perceptively experience it is always a treat and I thank you for your respect and love for the medium :)
Thanks for this awesome comment! It’s so true! I’ve been watching a lot of 70s/80s films and see how he is influenced by it. How good story telling is told. Truly worth watching every minute
This was a really good reaction to watch, you are good. I would highly recommend Denis Villeneuves Oscar nominated 2010 movie "Incendies. It will blow you away!
Couldn't have said it better myself. So few directors today know how to tell a story visually, and Denis V. is one of those wonderful few.
“You’re asking me how a watch works. For now, we’ll just keep an eye on the time.” Easily my favorite line from the movie.
"You afraid of the dark?"
This one is good too.
Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind River all written by Taylor Sheridan, work as a loose trilogy examining the modern American West.
All are excellent movies with stellar casts and well worth watching.
Hell or High Water was superb, and got very little attention when it came out. Outstanding cast, beautifully filmed and an excellent storyline. Great movie! I’d love to see an Ames reaction to it.
I totally agree, Hell or High Water is totally underrated and is an excellent film. Definitely deserves an Ames Reaction!!
Love both Hell or Highwatsr and Wind River. Saw both in the theater which really shines with Wind River. Taylor Sheridan is a modern day western writer. I’ll watch everything he does.
I've been pretty impressed with his writing for Yellowstone too.
Looking at the core of the character dynamics in this film I reckon he probably did write Kate's character as female from the beginning.
I honestly never thought of it like that…being from Arizona and working throughout the western states now that gave me a good insight on what you’re talking about
Perfect example of how to do a "slow burn" movie; takes its time establishing everything and absolutely pays off in the end.
Masterpiece. This is the movie that made me a Denis Villeneuve fan.
I've been a Roger Deakin fan ever since "O Brother, Where Are You?"
i gotta watch that!
@@holddowna YES! You will love that one.
I saw a great video essay on Sicario that shows how everyone thinks she is the main character but in reality Alejandro is the main character of you follow the screenplay story arch structure. The narrative switches from the story being told from her perspective to Alejandro’s at the end of the tunnel scene.
That’s when SHE realizes what is finally going on and that’s when WE realize what’s finally going on.
A movie called " sicario" talk about sicario
The border crossing scene is of course awesome, but I really love the line in the interrogation scene, “what do you keep looking at me for? No habla ingles, remember?”
"I bet you hablo to him"
I played as an extra in this movie. We didn't get paid but we did get free food. Taco trucks every day. Everyone couldn't stop staring at Emily Blunt. Everyone had a crush on her on the set. LOL.
She rocks!
a buddy of mine was also an extra on the flick... he told me the same thing. "dude, emily blunt is like.... beyond beautiful, so hot. like... dude.... you don't even know!!!" haha
I had a crush on her after "Young Victoria." Then Edge of Tomorrow and Sicario came out...
The scene on the plane at the start where he wakes up suddenly and scares us was supposed to show a flash-back dream of his family getting killed, and the scene where he shoots her in the body armor and says "never ever point a gun at me again" (foreshadowing for end?) were supposed to have a long dialogue but Denis decided to leave both out for the sake of "less is more" storytelling. So good.
This is what sets the bar for a good modern movie. Emily Blunt is on of the few actors in Hollywood that I truly find captivating.
Totally!
@@holddownaThe English
I love the mystery surrounding Benecio Del Toro and his character, you have no idea who he is or why he is there. But he is "the Sicario". And he has good reason for it
Totally! So much mystery. That’s why his end scenes are such a good pay off .. and then keeps u wondering about him after the movie is over. And Kate.
@@holddownammhmm. There is a Sicario 2 as well!! It's a good film. Not as good, but still worth a watch if you want more Alejandro!
The use of sound in this film is superb.
Wind River and Hell or High Water and Sicario are part of the Frontier trilogy from Taylor Sheridan. All a must watch.
Emily is such a good actress, her facial expressions completely match her acting abilities and of course Benicio is perfect for this roll almost as good as his roll in Fear and Loathing in las Vegas.
An exceptional film that (as you said) marries great, compelling storytelling with superb acting & directing, beautiful panoramic cinematography & an ominous, foreboding score. One of my favorites OAT for sure👍
The music in this film creates such an atmosphere full of tension, anxiety, and drama. Simply incredible.
I think I felt it the whole time
Steven Soderbergh's 2000 movie Traffic with Benicio, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Don Cheadle delves real deep into this world.
I’ve never seen it!
Great reaction, Ames. You are possibly the most patient reactor I've seen. Just absorbing what's happening and waiting for an opening to acknowledge it. So many spend so much time trying to predict what's going to happen next and talking over important dialogue or a subtle visual clue etc. Anyways.. you're right, they did a great job of establishing mood and keeping a subdued tone throughout the film. I was impressed with Emily Blunt. This may be the first and only thing I've seen her in. Josh Brolin and John Bernthal do a great job playing both good guys and heels, so you're never sure what to anticipate. This one was intense. I hope you had a glass of wine and chilled afterward. 😀
I love how you stayed engaged with the story, but are just as interested in, and appreciative of, how that story is being told. Well done, as always.
I was really invested. I had to pay attention. This movie took me on a crazy ride. Intense…thanks for watching!
If you want another movie that makes you feel like this watch Wind River. It is every bit as emotional, but with even better cinematography and an even more personal story for the main characters.
Excellent film. Same writer
Just watched this movie for the first time last month. Loved it. I was kind of thinking it’s like a season of True Detective, but in movie form
Also Hell or High Water, again written by Taylor Sheridan.
I love both of these movies but saying that a movie shot by Ben Richardson has better cinematography than one shot by Roger Deakins is absolutely hilarious.
Wind River is a must watch
Everything Benicio Del Toro touch turns to gold, he's like King Midas.
Another movie with Del Toro I'd recommend is "A Perfect Day", also starring Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko.
This film is an absolute masterclass in building tension. I love that you called out how simple and effective the filmmaking is after the opening sequence. It’s a great observation, and something I think the director has lost sight of a bit in his most recent work. Namely Dune, which I found to be overwrought and emotionally unaffecting on every level. This film on the other hand grips me with mortal terror for its characters and never lets go.
the last scene is brilliant: an illustration of prey and predator, before that a metaphor from Benicio about the “land of wolves”. Kate cannot shoot not because there is no opportunity - she simply cannot do it, even if she wants - the total powerlessness that tormented her throughout the film, and this scene of culmination... now she knows the enemy, but is even more powerless in front of him, her world has completely collapsed and there is no more hope. Benicio also wipes away her tears, which cements her in the subordinate and dependent position of “daughter”... Fantastic!;)
The last scene is also a prophecy about AMERICA.
It's happening and already here. Cartels are in 50 States.
Top 3 neo-westerns for sure. Denis best work to date.
I highly recommend Taylor Sheridan’s other works, Sicario is the first of his neo-western trilogy. Hell or High Water and Windriver being the other two.
Excellent video.
One of Denis’ strengths as a visual storyteller is his use of thematic coloring and iconography. The colors blue and tan are used to represent the two opposing sides of the conflict of truth and secrecy which is why Alejandro wears both colors throughout the film. There’s also a US flag in the frame every time Kate is faced with a moral dilemma. And there’s a bunch of visual borders worked into the framing, some of them obvious, others not. The glass walls of the federal building where the agents keep Kate and Reggie in the dark of their plan while creating the illusion of transparency while letting Kate into their office to tell her only what they want her to know is just on of the many visual borders seen on screen.
The movie focuses on Kate's perspective but she is not the main character, Alejandro is. This is Alejandro's story. Kate stands for us, the viewers, who think that procedures and justice can still function within the rule of law. We are so naive, just like Kate. That's the real "twist" of the script.
i only i think just finally really got that this time thinking through it..... 🤯
Well, that's it. That does it. You are now my favorite movie reactor. This movie was so, so damn good and your reaction was the best. The soundtrack too right, so tense, so foreboding and threatening. Anyway, a tremendous movie and a fantastic reaction. You notice little things I really appreciate. Keep up the good work, you're the best.
The question Kate has to answer at the end of the movie is: "Does she want Alejandro out there fighting against the cartels his way, or does she want to shoot him in the back and become a cold blooded killer like he is?"
Every character in this movie represents a different take on the question "Do the ends justify the means?" Matt Graver believes wholeheartedly that they do, and he is never in doubt about it. Alejandro Garcia used to believe in the law; he was a prosecutor, but after his family is killed, he decides that the ends of defeating the cartels and getting revenge for his family justifies performing the same act that made him who he is, killing a family. Kate Macer believes that the ends do not justify the means, but at the end of the movie, she is caught between two different questions about ends and means: first, does wanting to stop Alejandro from fighting the cartels justify murdering him in cold blood, and second, does wanting to put an end to cartel violence justify letting Alejandro continue fighting the war his way? In the end, she doesn't kill him, and he gets to continue fighting, which means that Kate, at least tacitly, believes that his ends justify his means.
And the last scene in the movie, the soccer game, is not just showing that nothing has changed; it's actually symbolic foreshadowing about what happens in the world after the movie ends. The two teams represent the cartels and the forces fighting them. When the shooting starts, both teams stop playing, symbolizing what happened to the war now that the cartel leader Alejandro assassinated was killed. Eventually, someone, the police officer's son we've been following, starts playing again, symbolizing that eventually someone else will rise to take over the now leaderless cartel.
What amazing observations. Thanks for sharing that.
i am still ferm the army and gouvernments over the teritory are the one who needs to blame not the cartel itself... they allow shit to happen after all the "last boss" who control everything in a country is not only one person but the leaders who dictate what happens over theyr land or the next... so my point is if gouv. sends military trainded people, unanouced they can litearly obliterate everything whitch cartels stays for... they do not, like in this movie they try to play an act whitch for the public make it look like an "good act" but in the end a gouvernment over a teritory/state/country whatever dictates what happens and what factors of problems happen in and near theyr teritory and in the end they have the power to literaly eradicate evey god damn cartel king, leader boss if they send the freaking army to kill them... a group of mans even if they have heavy echipamnets and literaly big guns to fight they have no chance to win agains a god damn army and theyr "gaggets" ... the fact the gouvernments stay aside and let it happens bcz " money $$$", in my P.O.V they are the ultimate learders who refuse to protect and serv theyr citsens and the well being and health of a country or many others...
This right here. Kate wants to believe in the law, but she realizes there are limitations..Alejandro on the other hand feels the law is too slow on moving to stop the cartels, and with his loss he 100% sides with doing anything possible to take them out no matter what. It's an interesting dynamic. I feel some times that the law does move too slow in some instances, but in others not. I guess in extreme situations I will agree with Alejandro, but in others with how Kate feels. IMHO, I don't think either way is wrong, but it depends on the situation.
I read the same way. Nothing will change, just a pause in the game. The perfect ending to an amazing film.
Awesome break down.
Villeneuve+Deakins = genius
Genius!!! This movie is soo good - saw so much more while editing
Deakins or Fraser--I'm not sure which I like more. Fraser's The Batman is so freaking excellent, as is his work on Dune. Deakins is just... a legend lol.
Such a great movie. Deakins is a master! And damn the music / sound design was fantastic.
unreal. i as so entranced by this movie i forgot to talk.
Deakins filmography is as good as it gets. Shawshank Redemption, 1917 … lots of work with the Coen Brothers, Sam Menses, And Denis.
now you need the sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Quite a weak sequel with out of character decisions. A few great scenes but that is about it, better to skip it to keep the integrity of the characters in the first movie
Emily Blunt is just an absolute standout in this film. What a fucking performance.
She’s amazing she’s unreal
she had the flu when they were shooting
This movie is a violent masterpiece happy to see you reacting to this
I think I was stunned the whole movie didn’t know what to think
@@holddownaI was stunned too especially the ending it was both shocking and iconic
¡Gracias!
Thank u so much for the super!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
This is the best reaction on this channel and simultanously the best reaction to this film overall, that I have seen to date.
Amazing work. Especially how you picked up on so much of the subtler themes and the cinematography on first watch.
Thanks! Def my most “chill” reaction. I was really immersed in the movie and the tone. I was blown away! Thanks for being here !
When Denis Villeneuve and Rodger Deakins get together, they truly make masterpieces. BR2049, Prisoners and Sicario all are shot so beautifully.
Literally took my breath away
They did shoot the tunnel scene with thermal camera's. The scene where you could see the guys boot prints on the floor of the tunnel. They had to heat up a guy's boots with a heat gun and have him walk across the floor to get the effect.
with such a high resolution and frequency? i need to know more do you have specifics?
The thermal shots were done using a FLIR SC8300 thermal vision camera
The scene at the end where she has to sign may be one of the best scenes ever
The music in this movie was amazing! Really mad the whole air of tension seem real.
One of my favorite movies of all time.
I live in NM and it's pretty cool that alot of it is filmed in NM like that cheap motel is in Albuquerque NM but they tore it down so it ain't there anymore. Can't wait for you to react to the 2nd one.
I can't unhear Thanos everytime Josh Brolins speaks. Especially when he's explaining things
I’m glad I’ve never seen him as Thanos then
Your going to be huge! Found your reactions today I’ve watched 5 vids in a row
Thank you so much for watching! Means a lot! I love movies and they all affect me in different ways! Thanks for being here!
Great reaction! Roger Deakins and Denis Villeneuve is a match made in heaven. You mentioned Prisoners early on and this is why it seemed familiar, they both worked on that film together.
Sicario is one of my favroite films Benicio Del Toro as Alejandro was just incredible, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin were so good too! but Benicio really stood out for me.
I kid you not, I only made it through about 5 minutes of this before I got the urge to go rewatch it for like the 5th time. Del Toro should have gotten a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Also fun fact, apparently Del Toro and Villaneuve worked to cut like 90% of Alejandro's dialogue from the original script in order to make him more mysterious. As much as I love Arrival and Prisoners, this might actually be Villaneuve's best movie.
Liked your reaction.... well edited, showing the best reaction points as well as key plot lines, with insightful comments, worthy credit to ALL the talent responsible for this brilliant work of art, without overdoing the chat, but most importantly, genuine full-on reactions that allow those of us following your video to re-live the emotions we felt when we first saw this masterpiece. I can see this Channel growing quickly.
"...walking deeper and deeper into the truth." Great insight and foretelling. Subbed.
In the lead up to Blade Runner 2049, this was the film I used to convince my friends who had never heard of Denis that it was in safe hands.
When this film first came out, I was still at university and every time I've re-watched it since or seen someone else react to it for the first time, it feels like I only saw it yesterday even though it's been nearly 10 years since i graduated. I had a lot more time on my hands back then so you could say it was my peak movie watching period. I remember passing by my local cinema to see what was on at the time and I remember seeing the poster for this new film Sicario in the window. Even though I loved the cast, I wasn't that familiar with Denis Villeneuve's work at the time and the poster just made it look like a generic action film, so I initially gave it a pass. But then after a few weeks of it's release i started keeping tabs on the rave reviews it was getting and potential Oscar buzz, so I decided to bite the bullet and give it a chance one night. I remember coming out of the cinema afterwards feeling like I've never been happier to have been proven completely wrong about a film going in. Not only do I think this is one of Villeneuve's best films, but it was also the very first screenplay written by Taylor Sheridan (who played David Hale in Sons of Anarchy) who has gone on to have a brilliant writing/directing career with works like Hell or High Water, Wind River and the TV show Yellowstone; all of which I cannot recommend enough.
I love how slow this film burns. It’s just low heat turning up slowly, like we’re lobsters.
denis villeneuve has an impressively holistic approach to moviemaking. so many aspects of visuals, sound design, lighting, casting, story, script and direction seem so carefully chosen. i was also pleasantly surprised by "blade runner 2049". a few months ago i watched the very metaphorical movie "enemy" (2013) by him and starring jake gyllenhaal. it was a little confusing 😅
anyway, great reaction! i really appreciate how much you appreciate the subtle details that are so plentyful in villeneuve's movies.
Incredible reaction! Your assessments of the colors are very interesting. You’ve gained a subscriber!
2:16 Her husband is the american actor John Krasinski .
Not a wasted shot in the movie, everything serves the story. I mean to have the black ops team as a metaphor literally disappear from the shadowy sunset into the dark to “operate” is just world class filmmaking. Really shows what happens when you have the talent both in front and behind the camera. Glad that Deakins finally got his Oscar with Blade Runner 2049 with Denis directing. It is kinda a travesty he was nominated 16 times before and not win. Should have won for this film, The Revenent is also well shot and I love Lubezki but I think with him being Mexican could appreciate how, the greatest challenge his home country faces, was masterfully executed in this film.
Whats crazy is that Kate is the only real source of contention within the movie. If she just went on every operator's dream team and played ball she wouldve been fine. But shes such a boy scout she gets herself strangled, beat, shot, etc.
It's crazy that this film has four Oscar nominees in it now. Just amazingly stacked talent.
Absolutely my kind of movie. Deserves more than just liking. S
One of my favorite movies! Great choice Ames! The cast is awesome and this story is fantastic! Luv benicio del toro and Emily Blunt! Sicario 2 is a must see! Also for another del toro and blunt movie watch The Wolfman! Thanks Ames!❤️💛
So good!
Top tier stuff!
Absolutely stressful but brilliant! Everyone on their A-game.
Great film! Did what it was suppose to do to me
You GOTTA watch No Country For Old Men! PLEASE! One of Josh Brolins best roles IMO. Love from Canada
I have tooooo!!!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🍁🍁🍁
Awesome I’m so glad you picked this movie. It’s intense from beginning to end and love your reaction! 🍿🥤
So intense! Thanks for watching ❤️
One of the best action movies in the past 10 years. I would say its near flawless from the storytelling/fimlcraft standpoint, the music is on point, its a bit silly on the tactical details when it comes to firefights ( not always but lots of weird stuff ) but that whole sequence as its building up to the border crossing is stellar. Great movie overall.
This is one of my top 5 movies so i appreciate you gor reacting to it... Will you be doing part 2?
There's a track in the film's OST called "The Beast" which is this tense droning sound. It gives you the feeling that there is this villain or monster after you.
The Beast only ever plays when U.S. Forces are in the scene.
Thanks for this comment
29:14: also a brutal aspect of this plan, which is brilliantly and horrifying executed by Alejandro, he kills in such a way so that to most, it looks like warring factions of the same cartel or different cartels, did it…it also just so happens to be the best opportunity for his own goals to be met too. Smh. It’s a beyond terrible plan, yet nearly flawlessly done.😮
Awesome reaction of my favorite movie!!!!!😊😊😊😊
This movie is SO GOOOD
Love this movie. A suspension masterpiece 👌🏻
In my opinion, there are no other directors who use negative space as well as he does. He also never coddles the audience in his movies. He is not afraid to show instead of tell, and if you miss it you miss it.
Totally. To me it’s an ode to how movies used to be made in the 70s/80s
Ohhh Aimz, this is one fantastic flick.
Solid choice.
Thanks! My patrons voted it!
"Hell or High Water" is, I would say, an even BETTER neo-Western. Highly, highly recommended; one of the best movies I've seen in recent years.
I gotta watch it!
"This is a land of wolves, now." is such a great line.
Such a great line
Where the rule of law still applies. So great. In other words, where normal morality still matters....
Villeneuve is fast becoming my favorite director of all-time. In a sense he's just finding his stride and I can't wait to see what his future projects look like.
Part 2, the story and the soundtrack is pulse pounding. The music comp in #2 kept me so amped up with anticipation it was amazing. Some corny parts too, but you gotta watch.
masterpiece of a movie, not many good movies comes these decades, but this one was epic in every way, from dialogues, to action and soundtrack, tension was insane in shootout and dining scenes...
You’ve got a good eye for direction and cinematography…I’m now subscriber
Yeah, love this film, great pick. Even in tactical gear Emily Blunt rocks it like it's Prada. Strong acting across the board with a great script, very ominous, the way it ends seems very realistic to how I imagine it would actually play out. Thanks Ames and Happy New Year Beautiful 😇😊
She rocks! Thanks for watching!! HNY to you too!!!
8:30, my wife is from El Paso which is close to Juarez. It's a place that Americans visit during daylight hours. These scenes in Juarez are very authentic. However, the Juarez Chamber of Commerce was upset that their city was portrayed this way. LOL.
The last scene shows that no matter what happens to any leader in the cartel they will be replaced and the machine will continue churning. There is no stopping it. Truly said what the everyday people must go through.
Ames: "A little bit intense already." From start to finish, this whole movie is intense.
Ain’t that the truth. Just stunned the whole time!
What is really shocking about this movie is that it has not been exaggerated. It's depiction of the cartels and how they operate along the border is very accurate.@@holddowna
Just discovered this channel.....love it.
You need to watch "Wind River" equally good movie if not better. Another GREAT cast.
John Bernthal's in that one too!
Nice reaction video, good editing and your reactions definitely came across as sincere 👍🏽👍🏽
I appreciate that! this one really had me speechless! not a lot of films can do that!
Dang, Ames. Loving your channel! I subscribed. I’m onboard. 😂❤
Welcome to the CREW!!!! Appreciate the sub! Thanks for being here means alot
Great Movie and Reaction Aimz !!! Keep it Up
Thanks a ton
I remember the moment when it hit me that this movie is not Kate's story but rather Alejandro's story. It may be told from the perspective of Kate but it's really Alejandro's story that the audience doesn't realize until the end of the movie or sometimes only after watching the movie multiple times. I read somewhere that during the scene when Alejandro gets startled by his nightmare on the flight to Juarez, Villeneuve considered showing flashbacks of Alejandro's life and fragments of the nightmare of his wife and daughter being murdered, but decided against it to keep the audience from figuring out who Alejandro is or what his role in the operation and the movie are. The audience knows there's something about Alejandro when you see him first appear and sense that he has some kind of traumatic past that he has nightmares about, but you don't know what about until the end of the movie. Brilliant storytelling and directing by Villeneuve.
EXACTLY what you meant... do you have anyone you would leave. That's important.
Nice one HdA - that's a tough watch, knew you were capable...
Just had me in a trance it was soo good!!!!
16:16 that part is so clear and important yet it seems to go right over Kate’s head.
He’s telling her they’re cool with it at the highest levels they just don’t want to be connected to it directly.
Often the so called “good” guys are driven by one of two things in these Hollywood scenarios. Duty Vs Honour. An honourable man would see the world bury rather than have his honour questioned whereas the Dutiful man would burn the evil alongside his honour for the good of society. Kate is one of those obnoxiously naive honour bound characters which was kind of annoying. I think that is how they should’ve made her character but let her evolve a bit as she saw some of the atrocities. But barring her character everything else was top notch about the first film. Second one was sloppy af though
Hell or High Water would be a great next Taylor Sheridan movie for you to check out. Super underrated, it came out during the "Marvel era" so it never got the attention it deserved, kinda like Sicario and Wind River, amazing cast, acting, story, etc.
Is there a lesser of two evils or is it all variations of gray?
That’s a good question
The last scene of the movie where the kids are playing soccer and the parents are watching, when the shooting happens and they pause and then afterwards they keep playing like nothing happens, For me personally is a very hard hitting scene for me personally bacause that scene alone symbolizes how normal and used to it people from central and south america are use to this type of thing and me included but I always like meaning of it, outside from the storytelling sense too
Hey Ames, you’re a day early! Never seen this, but likin’ the cast. I will definitely return after I watch this.
Welcome back! I was really entranced by this movie. Lots affecting you.
@@holddownaOh, well now I really can't wait to see it.
@@holddownaAmes, I don’t think I would have watched this if you hadn’t picked it, and it was really good. Somehow, even with Kate getting almost choked to death, it seemed like she was always going to be ok, because it was more about the revenge story, than her, and they always seemed to need her around for validation of their actions. Also seemed like her eyes were our eyes and WE needed her to witness everything. There were a several really good scenes, but the two that stand out to me the most is when they were all driving into Mexico. Also, the sequence where Alejandro (a.k.a., Mexican. Rad Pitt), making his way to the table of his nemesis, was captivating. But i loved all the slow and scenic stuff too. The vibe of this movie reminded me of No Country For Old Men, where Brolin was awesome once again (not to mention how great he was in MIB 3 as well). Ugh, sorry I’m so wordy.
Depiction of El Paso and Juarez was pretty spot on for the time. I’m from El Paso Texas and I always thought it was cool to see my town in this film.
Juarez isn’t as violent as it was 15-20 years ago now.
But at one point it was the most dangerous city on the planet; ironically while El Paso is one of the safest metropolitan areas in the United States lol
One of my favorite films of all time, from my favorite director of all time. Sicario, Incendies, Prisoners and Blade Runner 2049 all land a spot in my top 10 films of all time. Villeneuve does NOT miss. Also, “it’s giving me Prisoners vibes”, is an astute observation. Both films have the same cinematographer! Roger Deakins, the greatest cinematographer/D.O.P. in cinema history.
hope to see the sequel. Sheridan is a great writer. enjoy your reactions.
Actually, an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind except for one guy with one eye and the rest can't find him.