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This is one of the more realistic looks at the border situation and how things escalate with the cartels. While dramatized to an extent, yes, everything you saw in the film does actually happen IRL. There have been incidents such as the house filled with bodies that have happened in AZ. The cinematography was done by one of the masters, Roger Deakins. The director is one of the best working in the business at the moment, Denis Villeneuve.
Sicario is part of a trillogy called "The American Frontier Tillogy" all films written by taylor sherriden. -Sicario -Hell or High Water -Wind River This trillogy is no like other. its a tillogy about the feeling of america. its about struggeling for life. and loosing. Wind River is possibly the most important film of the modern era. and nobody knows about it because of Infinity war. There is a "Sicario 2". but its an action movie. and not directed by sherriden. its still good. but it is NOT part of The American Frontier Trillogy.
@@Hoenhime344 It's only very loosely a trilogy even thematically. It shares certain themes like the failing of fathers, westerns, and of course frontier settings and such, but the movies all tackle wildly different issues at their core. Both Wind River and Hell or High Water are both excellent films though. And while I realize Sheridan and the press like to refer to them as a "frontier trilogy" (not "The Frontier Trilogy", that title belongs to Jethro Compton and his stage plays), even he realizes they are starkly different given the main topic each one tackles. He did also direct Wind River as well as write it, and did an amazing job considering it was his second film behind the camera.
imo, Graver’s demeanor can come across as unnerving because we know these types of ppl exist in real life. Functional sociopaths/psychopaths. Doesn’t necessarily mean they’re “bad” (many in fact are morally abiding) but folks tend to be wary around those who seem comfortable navigating the most savage aspects of the human psyche/condition. Perhaps because there’s an innate understanding that they’re more than capable of expressing those aspects at any given moment.
@@ItsDefOver9000 It isn’t even about being a functional sociopath/psychopath, there are certain neurological disorders that have nothing to do with sociopathy or psychopathy that can make people seem extremely calm in high stress or dangerous situations. For example, people like myself who have ADHD, our brains aren’t producing the same brain waves as someone who doesn’t have ADHD, so for lack of a better term, most of our brains are kind of half asleep until we receive large amounts of external stimulation, or take a stimulant medication. I’m not saying that Josh Brolin’s character has ADHD, but there are lots of people who do have ADHD who could seem completely unfazed and almost jovial in those same situations.
I would like to have seen a movie with Kate, where she does move to a small town. Becomes sheriff and ends up dealing with drugs creeping into her small town world. We see her deal with it in her way; by the book, “where the rule of law still applies”. But in the end, she can’t stop what’s coming, and she finally realizes what Matt meant an Alejandro warned her about. And after successfully stopping the local drug lord, she peers out onto the horizon. The movie closing on her view of the tiny road leading into her town.
The best description I've seen of Sicario is that it's a horror movie shot from someone working alongside the killer who doesn't realize what's going on.
that shooting sound at the end of the movie in the soccer game is such a powerful scene... how they react, and everything keeps going like it is sadly part of their lives
Benicio Del Torro's character was a force of nature in this movie. A primal monster who could not be stopped. Could not be bargained with. Could not be deterred. Without pity or remorse or a hint of kindness. His humanity stripped away.
But what I really like was how predatorial he was. Swift and most importantly, silent. Like a tiger stalking its prey. Cool and deliberate. Too often in revenge movies the character turns into a rage monkey. Not here. Perfection here.
I agree with all of that except the last part. I think he expressed all of those traits toward Kate in the end. His total commitment to his mission was greater than those traits though which, to me, makes him an even more compelling and terrifying character. He would have felt bad about killing her, but would have done it if he felt it needed to be done. He makes me think of Kurtz's speech in "Apocalypse Now", about the VC going into the village and chopping off the arms of the children vaccinated by his Special Forces team. "And then I realized they were stronger than we. Because they could stand that. These were not monsters. These were men… trained cadres. These men who fought with their hearts, who had families, who had children, who were filled with love… but they had the strength… the strength… to do that." Kurtz was insane, of course, but I think Alejandro was the kind of man he was imagining.
One of the reasons that the tension builds so well in Sicario is because we as the viewers are in the same boat as our main protagonist: knowing only what we need to know at any given time (which is, terrifyingly, little). It removes the omniscient point of view that we usually have when watching movies, where we know more than the characters and can feel comforted in that knowledge. In Sicario? We're as blind as she is. It's a storytelling style that wouldn't work for every type of movie, but for this, it is absolutely masterful.
You’re getting close. Kate was what is known as a false protagonist. At the end of the movie the background of Alejandro unfolds and we learn the story was about him all along. The movie was always about Alejandro.
Talk about body language, go to the scene with Alejandro and the Cartel Boss' family at the dinner table. Watch the wife slowly drop her head after Alejandro tells her husband, "Don't forget about my daughter." She knows she's ignored all the evil that he's done but now it's time to pay the bill and they are dead. Also pay attention to the Cartel Boss' shoulders throughout the scene. His shoulders are back and his frame is strong and unbroken until Alejandro shoots the family. His shoulders are then sagging as he's been broken and is now too terrified to even move. Both the actor and actress did such an amazing job in the scene and it's overlooked.
Yup, also note how he speaks English a majority of the time, except for the line "Time to meet God" because in that moment he's not talking to the boss, but to his Family, he believes they will go to heaven as they are truely innocent, but he won't
People would have to understand how nepotism works with cartel too. If Alejandro had left the kids alive, they'd most likely become the next successors to that faction. They might be even worse because they'd have a chip on their shoulders because they'd have watched their dad get executed.
This is a moral choice. If you could go back in time and be able to kill Hitler as a child, would you do it or not? Just think how many lives you would have saved.
I agree. It’s also worth mentioning that Alejandro killed the children and wife quickly. As wrong as that was…It was a mercy compared to what happened to Alejandro’s family.
@@MaxstallfishDenton watch his other collabs with the director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners [2013] & Blade Runner 2049 [2017]). Amazing the consistency in their work across different stories and genres
@@DirByHasan I've only watched Prisoners once. It's SO good, but I could never watch it again. It's every bit as bleak as this movie, and just so depressing. Absolutely recommend it. Still haven't watch BR2049 but I know I need to.
When the family gets killed together by Benecio, the irony is that you say it reminds you of Breaking Bad. The boy that gets killed is the actor that played Brock.
He’s been on a crazy run since 2013. Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Dune Part One and Two. I haven’t seen Enemy but I’ve also great things.
One of the coolest things I’ve experienced is running into Benito Del Toro in San Juan. In the city, there are small areas with benches and fountains for people to sit and relax. As we were bar-hopping the night before a wedding, a big group of us stopped for a few minutes to sit while we figured out where to walk next. Sitting in the dark on a bench smoking a cigarette by himself was none other than Benicio. A couple guys in our group live in LA, and one of them had met BDT before. He broke the ice and we all talked to him a little bit. Really nice guy, and he was just kind of relaxing by himself, watching the downtown nightlife. The vibe was very similar to him in this movie, minus the violence, and he smiled more.
I would absolutely add "Prisoners" to that list. My favorite Hugh Jackman performance (sorry Wolverine) and such a tense thriller. I also loved "Blade Runner 2049". Denis may be the most consistently amazing director working right now.
The explosion in the intro to the movie is genius. Because of that scene, it gives the feeling that anything could happen at any time, and that’s why every scene where they’re on a mission feels so intense. The explosion establishes the rest of the movie in that way.
The perfect description of Alejandro that Matt gave is so chilling. Alejandro was a prosecutor who worked against the cartels through the legal system and when they took his family from him he became a sword - an indiscriminate weapon to be wielded against those he wanted vengeance on and Matt and the CIA just happen to be who is wielding the sword at this very moment
19:24 that’s the sound of a rag being shoved in one’s mouth, water boarding is what comes next. The rag absorbs water and simulates drowning without actually drowning.
Seeing the cook/maid at the end is such a great detail. The recce team tell him there are X people at the property, he counts down and then heads straight to the target.
@@rossqpd the recon team tells him there are, if I remember correctly 6 people in the compound including himself. He sees four at the dinner table, looks at the maid and assess that there are no more threats. So he casually moves forward.
Yeah there’s a reason why Roger Deakins is widely considered to be our greatest living cinematographer. This might be his best work too. The way he brings this film’s tone to life was incredible, along with that droning score. Felt like I needed to take a shower after this one.
Obviously now you have to watch "Wind River" & "Hell Or High Water", cuz they're all part of "The Frontier Trilogy". They're not actually connected story-wise, but they're all sooo worth watching!
The Americans wanted the head drug leader dead--they used the Sicario to do it--fulfilling 2 agendas. I suspect that the Mexican officer was deeply conflicted about what he was doing--hence, drinking in the early morning hours. That closing scene between Blunt and Del Toro really drove home she no longer could work there. He essentially dared her to shoot him--and she could not. At the close of the movie, how regular people lived with extreme violence while trying to embrace family activities. What a nightmare.
It's simple. You work for them or lose your life,or a family member. Saw a DEA officer on Joe Rogan. He told of HANDPICKED Mexican police officers,soldiers,and marines,trained by USA to deal with cartels. They went back to Mexico, eliminated cartels,AND TOOK OVER THEIR OPERATIONS THEMSELVES. Look for that episode,it will turn your stomach. This happened 35 to 40 years ago.
One of the best takes I've heard of the end is that Alejandro felt he was helping Kate. By holding the gun on her she had to sign or die, to him he was lessening her guilt over signing against her principles.
I haven't seen it, but I've heard nothing but praise for Stallone's acting and dedication to the production of that film. One thing I really remember is hearing that he was willing to put something like 40 pounds of weight on for the role.
The movie took the position that a sense of ethics is just an illusion, a "small-town" luxury that gets paid for every day by someone else. It's so hard for her to sign that letter, while the policeman lives in a place where he has to compromise himself every day, it's just... Wednesday.
No wonder they were puking all over the place. I was there in the Tsunami hit areas in Down South Sri Lanka just a day after the devastation. It was a hot , sunny day in 2004 in tropical sri lanka, more than 46000 dead, mostly in the southern seaboard towns. The Smell of thousands of dead bodies rotting under the sun was - Life Changing. Even so many years later - I can still remember that smell. Once you get to know the smell of death...you never forget it.
@@AbyssWatch3r You will see people mention it as a bitter sweet smell of death sometimes in books and documentaries. And they are right. It smelled like a mix of sea, dead fish , rotting sweet fruits and vomit all combined (but way worse) that's the best I can explain it in words.
This is one of the funniest movies ever watch someone react to. You don't realize until the end that it is not Kate's story. That it is Alejandro's it is such an incredibly dark but well done movie
Other notable details often overlooked: - Reggie finally realizes what’s going on, reciting doctrine with Matt when he gave up and told them the real reason for having a domestic agency present. Reggie knew it verbatim because of his law degree, hence Matt’s “no lawyers on this train” at the beginning when screening both of them. - The beautiful sunset/tunnel raid scene you start to really get the full weight of the actual Sicario’s significance; the Delta boys in camo all have infrared(green) night vision, Alejandro in all black has thermal(black/white) night vision, and all shown shots are from each’s perspective. - Alejandro only uses 3 lethal shots for the 3 family members, 2 for Fausto: Clearly intentional, 1st round went to his throat for just a little more suffering after watching his family die, then 2nd round to the head to end it. Second Sicario is a decent action movie, but it’s a crime of how short it falls to its impeccably well-made first film
Denis Villeneuve did this. Hes got crazy visuals, cinematography, and sound design. Hes the guy that did Arrival, the Dunes, blade runner 2049, and prisoners. *Edit. Both 'Dune' movies.
3:35 exactly! The fact that that guy was just standing there unfased while everyone else is struggling make me so curious about his history. Makes me think he has been through this way too many times and after seeing this he knew exactly what was how things were going to happen next. Looked like he was thinking "well here we go again."
Yes, that is true. I used to work for a funeral home and it's a very distinctive smell. That's why when I watch movies that have these type of scenes my brain is triggered and I can smell it all over again
And the only dead bodies I've ever encountered were of relatives that were readied up for funerals, and those are already 'beautified' and perfumed up to mask it. I dread the day I ever encounter one that wasn't prepped.
I remember smelling death on the snakes my dad would crush the heads of. Then later the deer as he skinned and prepped them for eating. Then my grandpa when they cremated him. The smell of burning hair is the most pungent, right up there with flesh. It isn't something I'll forget.
I'm not that emotional when I watch the movie, but when I watched Sicario, I was more tense and terrified of all that's happening than from ANY horror movie. The tone, the action, the dialogues, the atmosphere, it's all so on point, that you afraid of what happened next, but you can't stop
i love how you said it should be the Alexandro movie when the movie is called sicario which in the first few seconds of the movie explained that sicario means hitman and Alexandro is the hitman they make the movie seem to be about Kate when its really about Alexandro. :)
An interesting detail that many may have missed, is the reasoning for Brolin choosing Kate for the mission instead of Reggie. Kate has never worked "cases"(investigation/detective work?) and kicked in frontdoors since day 1. Reggie on the other hand had a ROTC scholarship, did a tour in Iraq but most importantly, got a law degree. So while both Kate and Reggie are experienced lawmen, the latter is more educated. So choosing the one who has been on the frontline since day 1 and never sat on a schoolbench is a nobrainer, easier to keep her in the dark. See 34:53, in which Reggie know some of the legal framework for CIA to operate domestically.
She was new and navive to the cartels.Her character was the audiences character,showing how ruthless the cartels are so that the audience see it through her eyes. Brolin used her because of CIA not being allowed to operate domesticly...But,the CIA does have a way to do that and that's a way complicated issue.
Not shown in this video but in the movie, Reggie also specifically tells Kate to avoid "these types of guys" because he's seen them do work in the sandbox and its best not to get involved. I think it was during the bus scene when Reggie calls Matt over to ask what they were doing, Matt specifically even says "f**kin' lawyers" because like you said, Reggie isn't just another crayon chewing bloodthirsty doorkicking canoe club member (IYKYK).
@@Project153 That's a good point, tying it to Reggie doing a tour in Iraq and having prior experiences with the CIA. It's been a long time since I've seen the movie, so just went from memory regarding this reaction video.
What alot of ppl miss about Alejandro killing Silvio is that he does it to ensure the safety of Silvio's family. Had he been allowed to live the cartel may well have considered him a traitor and punished him through his wife and son. Him getting killed during this infiltration clears his name in the eyes of his employer Its why Alejandro tells him when they are driving out into the desert that everything that is happening is for his (Silvio's) family. In a way, it has double meaning
The jug of water in the torture/interogation scene wasn't for waterboarding. It was to wash away any evidence of what Alejandro did to him in the room. That's why it pans down slowly towards a dry floor drain and a jug that still has the seal on it. Also why the other american special ops left the room and turned off the camera.
this movie is a masterclass in building tension, there are so many youtube videos dissecting the border crossing scene, it is top tier cinema, so happy you noticed and mentioned.
And the night vision that you were commenting on, are actually thermal imaging goggles, meaning that you are actually looking at the heat signature of everything around you, it’s much better for going underground where they were going, and there is no ambient light for regular night vision goggles to pick up.
This was unlike anything I'd ever seen in my life. It's a shame that more people don't know about this movie, because everything about it was damn near perfect. The characters, the plot, the cinematography, the writing. Not to mention the music was friggin phenomenal.
Such a good movie great cinematography believable characters and pushes the viewer into uncomfortable situations so much tension, and the music score fantastic Kate represents the viewer
On the other side of the border, its a whole different world. And that goes for many places in the world. Your life is worth no more than the dirt you stand on. People should really appreciate all they have living in first world countries.
This movie is so damn good, Benicio is just the GOAT. I didn't liked the 2nd one though but this is one of those movies that are done with care and it shows, it's just perfect 🔥
“What is happening there” @19:27 that would be water boarding. You put a towel or cloth over someone’s mouth and you poor water into it. The person gags and coughs a ton because it mimics drowning. The giveaway is the large water chug
Benicio's character was not an assassin for hire who would work for anyone. He was a former prosecuter in Mexico whose wife and daughter was murdered by the cartel as a warning not to keep doing his job. The point of him was not that he would work for anyone because he was a hitman. The point was that he would work for anyone that would help him get his revenge. So the CIA (Brolin) exploited that and used him as a hitman. They also used Kate because by law the CIA cannot operate on American soil without the cooperation and participation of the FBI. The CIA and Kate's bosses also exploited her in order to carry out this state sponsored assassination of the head of the cartel. All the actions of the U.S. government were actually illegal. And they knew it. That's why they kept Kate in the dark, then forced her to sign the paper saying everything they did was above board.
44:36 No, no you don't ever want to be known as the person who says, "Don't you know who I am?" Very bad karma. Yes, it was for Alejandro to get his revenge. But, he was trained up as an assassin by the U.S. A useful tool. I guess you should watch Sicario 2. I think their should be a Sicario 3, featuring the tattooed kid, as a double agent neither side can fully trust. Would be an interesting movie.
The film could have ended just fine after Alejandro walks away from Kate's apartment with his silhouette and brooding music. Nice tight conclusion. The fact it ended with the kids playing soccer, gunshots going off, both the kids and parents pause and turn to look in unison, then continue on playing with that somber-pensive score in the background is still quite moving. So, take your pick. Intense-holding-your-breath ending or suffering-yet-persevering ending. Both are excellent, IMHO.
The goal wasn't to get revenge for Alejandro. The Americans just worked with him because his goal aligned with theirs, they both wanted the Mexican bossman dead, just for different reasons.
Bolin's character is only asking Kate those questions to see her vulnerability to compromise or threats. If was married with kids, that's a big problem. And Alejandro's comment at the end - "You will not survive here. You are not a wolf. And this is the land of wolves now." And was worried when Kate pointed the gun at him off the balcony since he warned her in the tunnel, "Do ever point a gun at me again." I was waiting from to turn, drop to a knee and end her.
I had a little different take on Alejandro when it came to Kate. He was protecting her all through the movie. Telling her to take her service weapon out at the border crossing. Saving her from the dirty cop. Shooting her in the vest in the garage was the best of two choices. And in her apartment at the end, he made her sign the paper, because even if he didn't kill her, someone else would. As Alejandro said, she reminded him of his daughter.
Alejandro absolutely had no intention of killing Kate when she was aiming at him. You'll notice he turned around and squared up with his hands completely down. There's multiple layers to that. Alejandro was alright with dying at that point because he'd completed his path of revenge. However, he also wanted to test Kate's resolve. If she pulled the trigger, she's become a "wolf" and was cut throat enough to replace him. If she didn't pull the trigger, she kept her righteous resolve and pure good morality, as he would have wanted a daughter to do. Either way, Alejandro would be proud of Kate's decision.
You kept commenting the gorgeous shots in this film so I feel compelled to tell you that one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) directors of photography, Roger Deakins, is responsible for this absolute masterpiece. Previous work includes movies like Shawshank Redemption, Blade Runner 2049 and Skyfall (amongst many other beautiful films).
It’s amazing how real this movie depiction is. In all actuality the cartel violence in Mexico is 1000 times worse than what this movie shows. There are tens to hundreds of beheadings everyday in Mexico.
In case you're curious, at 41:00 he's not talking about the CIA running the drug cartel. He's saying it's easier to monitor and police a single drug cartel vs many.
Prisoners is another one by Denis Villeneuve. Different from this movie but just as good. And the writer for this movie also wrote Wind River, perhaps the most underrated film of the past decade.
"All I hear when Brolin talks is Thanos"-Steven Funny, all I can hear when Brolin talks is Brand yelling, "Im gonna hit you so hard, when you wake up, your clothes are gonna be out of style! Mikey!!" 😂
There are posters of just moments in film. I have a few dozen, not to mention alternative posters. I love how your mind went there Nikki, and Steven likes that idea too!
React to the film: THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019), another insane psychological horror from A24, intense, sinister and with powerful performances, it's worth checking out.
Matt and Alejandro's characters were insane but Matt's is the scarier one because he's enjoying all the shit going down. Great movie and great reaction
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Keep up with us, the community, the schedule and everything we have going on, join our discord: discord.com/invite/stikkerfam
This is one of the more realistic looks at the border situation and how things escalate with the cartels. While dramatized to an extent, yes, everything you saw in the film does actually happen IRL. There have been incidents such as the house filled with bodies that have happened in AZ. The cinematography was done by one of the masters, Roger Deakins. The director is one of the best working in the business at the moment, Denis Villeneuve.
Sicario is part of a trillogy called "The American Frontier Tillogy" all films written by taylor sherriden.
-Sicario
-Hell or High Water
-Wind River
This trillogy is no like other. its a tillogy about the feeling of america. its about struggeling for life. and loosing. Wind River is possibly the most important film of the modern era. and nobody knows about it because of Infinity war.
There is a "Sicario 2". but its an action movie. and not directed by sherriden. its still good. but it is NOT part of The American Frontier Trillogy.
@@Hoenhime344 It's only very loosely a trilogy even thematically. It shares certain themes like the failing of fathers, westerns, and of course frontier settings and such, but the movies all tackle wildly different issues at their core. Both Wind River and Hell or High Water are both excellent films though. And while I realize Sheridan and the press like to refer to them as a "frontier trilogy" (not "The Frontier Trilogy", that title belongs to Jethro Compton and his stage plays), even he realizes they are starkly different given the main topic each one tackles. He did also direct Wind River as well as write it, and did an amazing job considering it was his second film behind the camera.
Hey..I subscribed for 29 rs per month and I can't play the video ..peaky blinders season 2 episode 4
Please put the movie "Greenland" in your polls. You won't regret it.
Josh Brolin's character's demeanor of calm, carefree and almost jovial in a world of death and chaos is very unnerving. Such a great performance.
You described it perfectly. I hated him when I first watched this and when Kate punched him, that was satisfying lol
Probably why they wanted him for Thanos 😆
imo, Graver’s demeanor can come across as unnerving because we know these types of ppl exist in real life. Functional sociopaths/psychopaths. Doesn’t necessarily mean they’re “bad” (many in fact are morally abiding) but folks tend to be wary around those who seem comfortable navigating the most savage aspects of the human psyche/condition. Perhaps because there’s an innate understanding that they’re more than capable of expressing those aspects at any given moment.
@@ItsDefOver9000 It isn’t even about being a functional sociopath/psychopath, there are certain neurological disorders that have nothing to do with sociopathy or psychopathy that can make people seem extremely calm in high stress or dangerous situations. For example, people like myself who have ADHD, our brains aren’t producing the same brain waves as someone who doesn’t have ADHD, so for lack of a better term, most of our brains are kind of half asleep until we receive large amounts of external stimulation, or take a stimulant medication. I’m not saying that Josh Brolin’s character has ADHD, but there are lots of people who do have ADHD who could seem completely unfazed and almost jovial in those same situations.
Men like him absolutely exists in real life and they're absolutely necessary in this world because who else is going to face the evil in this world.
"You're not a wolf....and this is a land of wolves now." One of the most terrifying lines ever uttered.
I would like to have seen a movie with Kate, where she does move to a small town. Becomes sheriff and ends up dealing with drugs creeping into her small town world. We see her deal with it in her way; by the book, “where the rule of law still applies”.
But in the end, she can’t stop what’s coming, and she finally realizes what Matt meant an Alejandro warned her about.
And after successfully stopping the local drug lord, she peers out onto the horizon. The movie closing on her view of the tiny road leading into her town.
@@therewasacrookedman5892 would be a decent spinoff
Not really. This is how the world has always been for women.
It's kinda cringy in my opinion and it's one of my favourite movies.
Especially coming from...The Wolfman.
The best description I've seen of Sicario is that it's a horror movie shot from someone working alongside the killer who doesn't realize what's going on.
nice one
Ah wow thats great, nailed it.
I always saw Sicario is a revenge movie with an 'unreliable narrator'.
that shooting sound at the end of the movie in the soccer game is such a powerful scene... how they react, and everything keeps going like it is sadly part of their lives
Because it is sadly a part of their lives and even after all of this mental trauma the audience went through life goes on.
Just like any school in America eh
I'm sure you've been told this, but this was written by Taylor Sheridan who played Sheriff Hale in Sons of Anarchy. This is his first movie.
Oh wow I want them to go on a Taylor Sheridan marathon now. They would love Tulsa king.
@@nickschnider9191Love them to react to Wind River
@adrianmerchant653 not gonna lie, I don't remember that one. Was it a movie or series?
@@nickschnider9191 its a really good movie
@@nickschnider9191 it’s a movie with Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Dark as hell.. but really good
Benicio Del Torro's character was a force of nature in this movie. A primal monster who could not be stopped. Could not be bargained with. Could not be deterred. Without pity or remorse or a hint of kindness. His humanity stripped away.
But what I really like was how predatorial he was. Swift and most importantly, silent. Like a tiger stalking its prey. Cool and deliberate. Too often in revenge movies the character turns into a rage monkey.
Not here. Perfection here.
He pretty much was a model 101 terminator. 😮
thanks for the poetry.
I agree with all of that except the last part. I think he expressed all of those traits toward Kate in the end. His total commitment to his mission was greater than those traits though which, to me, makes him an even more compelling and terrifying character. He would have felt bad about killing her, but would have done it if he felt it needed to be done.
He makes me think of Kurtz's speech in "Apocalypse Now", about the VC going into the village and chopping off the arms of the children vaccinated by his Special Forces team.
"And then I realized they were stronger than we. Because they could stand that. These were not monsters. These were men… trained cadres. These men who fought with their hearts, who had families, who had children, who were filled with love… but they had the strength… the strength… to do that."
Kurtz was insane, of course, but I think Alejandro was the kind of man he was imagining.
Nice job paraphrasing a lot of Reese's dialogue in Terminator.
One of the reasons that the tension builds so well in Sicario is because we as the viewers are in the same boat as our main protagonist: knowing only what we need to know at any given time (which is, terrifyingly, little). It removes the omniscient point of view that we usually have when watching movies, where we know more than the characters and can feel comforted in that knowledge. In Sicario? We're as blind as she is. It's a storytelling style that wouldn't work for every type of movie, but for this, it is absolutely masterful.
and Denis Villeneuve is a master of his craft.
@@Smurfkiller88 and Roger Deakins is an absolut artist
Kate sucks
You’re getting close. Kate was what is known as a false protagonist. At the end of the movie the background of Alejandro unfolds and we learn the story was about him all along. The movie was always about Alejandro.
Yes, it was about Alejandro, but we see it from her perspective. We find things when as she does, so it’s definitely about both of them.
Talk about body language, go to the scene with Alejandro and the Cartel Boss' family at the dinner table. Watch the wife slowly drop her head after Alejandro tells her husband, "Don't forget about my daughter." She knows she's ignored all the evil that he's done but now it's time to pay the bill and they are dead. Also pay attention to the Cartel Boss' shoulders throughout the scene. His shoulders are back and his frame is strong and unbroken until Alejandro shoots the family. His shoulders are then sagging as he's been broken and is now too terrified to even move. Both the actor and actress did such an amazing job in the scene and it's overlooked.
Yeah, she drops her head and you can tell she knows these are her last moments.
Her head drops when he mentions his daughter because she realizes that he's going to kill the boys too.
The Boss isn't terrified, he is dead inside. He's lost everything.
Yup, also note how he speaks English a majority of the time, except for the line "Time to meet God" because in that moment he's not talking to the boss, but to his Family, he believes they will go to heaven as they are truely innocent, but he won't
Benicio turns at the end and presents his heart when Kate is aiming at him. He's saying he doesnt care, he got his revenge.
On one hand, killing children is always evil. On the other hand, if someone threw my child into a tub of acid.....
People would have to understand how nepotism works with cartel too. If Alejandro had left the kids alive, they'd most likely become the next successors to that faction. They might be even worse because they'd have a chip on their shoulders because they'd have watched their dad get executed.
This is a moral choice. If you could go back in time and be able to kill Hitler as a child, would you do it or not? Just think how many lives you would have saved.
@@onemuststand7353 "Reputation is more important than welfare."
I agree. It’s also worth mentioning that Alejandro killed the children and wife quickly. As wrong as that was…It was a mercy compared to what happened to Alejandro’s family.
@@lilscenechick1995 "Wrong" being very subjective in this case.
This is the best cinematographer there will ever be. The Legendary Roger Deakins
Sir Roger Deakins CBE ABSolute cinematography badass
Hope we can see more movies like this in future.
@@MaxstallfishDenton watch his other collabs with the director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners [2013] & Blade Runner 2049 [2017]). Amazing the consistency in their work across different stories and genres
@@DirByHasan I've only watched Prisoners once. It's SO good, but I could never watch it again. It's every bit as bleak as this movie, and just so depressing. Absolutely recommend it. Still haven't watch BR2049 but I know I need to.
Don't forget Roger Deakins' work on 1917......man is always peaking
When the family gets killed together by Benecio, the irony is that you say it reminds you of Breaking Bad. The boy that gets killed is the actor that played Brock.
I have never realized that! Nice!😆
Denis Villeneuve is on such a crazy run right now
He’s been on a crazy run since 2013. Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Dune Part One and Two. I haven’t seen Enemy but I’ve also great things.
@@johnjoseph6874 Enemy is really good too in my opinion, i'll only need to check out Incendies since i've heard great things about it as well
@@johnjoseph6874 that's why he's the goat
Don't forget Incendies @@johnjoseph6874
@@johnjoseph6874fr! The man doesn’t miss. He is on the same level as a Nolan and Tarantino. Modern cinema masters
One of the coolest things I’ve experienced is running into Benito Del Toro in San Juan. In the city, there are small areas with benches and fountains for people to sit and relax. As we were bar-hopping the night before a wedding, a big group of us stopped for a few minutes to sit while we figured out where to walk next. Sitting in the dark on a bench smoking a cigarette by himself was none other than Benicio. A couple guys in our group live in LA, and one of them had met BDT before. He broke the ice and we all talked to him a little bit. Really nice guy, and he was just kind of relaxing by himself, watching the downtown nightlife. The vibe was very similar to him in this movie, minus the violence, and he smiled more.
Yep,tabloid TV shows showed him bar hopping in LA,drunk as a skunk years ago and he was nice.
Such a great movie! That border scene with barking dog fills me with tension every time I watch it
It's Denis Villeneuve. Everything he touches turns to gold.
46:50 one of the COLDEST revenge scenes I can remember seeing in cinema 🥶
Incredible movie, Denis is a genius
" give him so much water he pisses himself" oh Steve, you sweet summer child, love you 😂
The ending is one of the most haunting scenes I've seen. As someone from South America that hits hard. Its the reality of many of us.
Amazing movie.
This director is the best working. Arrival, Dune and Dune 2 plus this are all masterpieces
The Dune movies are boring----its plot relying on the crutch of fantasy/magic...only for a very niche audience.
"only for a very niche audience" are you legitimately delusional lmao
Just because the plot involves fantasy/magic aspects doesn’t mean its relying on it.
You forgot Incendies, Blade Runner 2049, Prisoners.
I would absolutely add "Prisoners" to that list. My favorite Hugh Jackman performance (sorry Wolverine) and such a tense thriller. I also loved "Blade Runner 2049". Denis may be the most consistently amazing director working right now.
The explosion in the intro to the movie is genius. Because of that scene, it gives the feeling that anything could happen at any time, and that’s why every scene where they’re on a mission feels so intense. The explosion establishes the rest of the movie in that way.
The perfect description of Alejandro that Matt gave is so chilling. Alejandro was a prosecutor who worked against the cartels through the legal system and when they took his family from him he became a sword - an indiscriminate weapon to be wielded against those he wanted vengeance on and Matt and the CIA just happen to be who is wielding the sword at this very moment
19:24 that’s the sound of a rag being shoved in one’s mouth, water boarding is what comes next. The rag absorbs water and simulates drowning without actually drowning.
Seeing the cook/maid at the end is such a great detail. The recce team tell him there are X people at the property, he counts down and then heads straight to the target.
@@rossqpd the recon team tells him there are, if I remember correctly 6 people in the compound including himself. He sees four at the dinner table, looks at the maid and assess that there are no more threats. So he casually moves forward.
Yeah there’s a reason why Roger Deakins is widely considered to be our greatest living cinematographer. This might be his best work too.
The way he brings this film’s tone to life was incredible, along with that droning score.
Felt like I needed to take a shower after this one.
Obviously now you have to watch "Wind River" & "Hell Or High Water", cuz they're all part of "The Frontier Trilogy". They're not actually connected story-wise, but they're all sooo worth watching!
How about the direct sequel?
"Wind River" is fantastic.
Wind River has a very similar bleak but tense atmosphere. I’ll never forget how it made me feel. Great fucking movie but so emotionally draining.
The Americans wanted the head drug leader dead--they used the Sicario to do it--fulfilling 2 agendas. I suspect that the Mexican officer was deeply conflicted about what he was doing--hence, drinking in the early morning hours. That closing scene between Blunt and Del Toro really drove home she no longer could work there. He essentially dared her to shoot him--and she could not. At the close of the movie, how regular people lived with extreme violence while trying to embrace family activities. What a nightmare.
It's simple. You work for them or lose your life,or a family member. Saw a DEA officer on Joe Rogan. He told of HANDPICKED Mexican police officers,soldiers,and marines,trained by USA to deal with cartels. They went back to Mexico, eliminated cartels,AND TOOK OVER THEIR OPERATIONS THEMSELVES. Look for that episode,it will turn your stomach. This happened 35 to 40 years ago.
Have you seen Jon Bernthal in The Accountant? That's a great movie.
One of the best takes I've heard of the end is that Alejandro felt he was helping Kate. By holding the gun on her she had to sign or die, to him he was lessening her guilt over signing against her principles.
I recommend Cop Land. Sylvester Stallone, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro & Robert Patrick. Incredible cast in that movie.
I haven't seen it, but I've heard nothing but praise for Stallone's acting and dedication to the production of that film. One thing I really remember is hearing that he was willing to put something like 40 pounds of weight on for the role.
Copland is good.
The movie took the position that a sense of ethics is just an illusion, a "small-town" luxury that gets paid for every day by someone else. It's so hard for her to sign that letter, while the policeman lives in a place where he has to compromise himself every day, it's just... Wednesday.
Glad I caught this one. Absolutely spectacular movie from my favorite director. Every frame could be a painting.
Denis Villeneuve is a phenomenal director.
Same guy who directed Dune, Dune 2, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Prisoners, Enemy & so much more.
Well, now y'all have to watch the rest of Sheridan's Modern Western Trilogy; Hell or High Water and Wind River. Both fantastic films
No wonder they were puking all over the place. I was there in the Tsunami hit areas in Down South Sri Lanka just a day after the devastation. It was a hot , sunny day in 2004 in tropical sri lanka, more than 46000 dead, mostly in the southern seaboard towns. The Smell of thousands of dead bodies rotting under the sun was - Life Changing. Even so many years later - I can still remember that smell. Once you get to know the smell of death...you never forget it.
damn, is it smell like dead animal, or way worse?
I'm sorry to hear you went through that, sounds really harrowing.
@@melee2776 It was indeed.
@@AbyssWatch3r You will see people mention it as a bitter sweet smell of death sometimes in books and documentaries. And they are right. It smelled like a mix of sea, dead fish , rotting sweet fruits and vomit all combined (but way worse) that's the best I can explain it in words.
@@amithrodrigo87 yes, it does have a "sweet, putrid" smell. You dont forget it after the first time
I love how simple the music is. It feels like it’s synchronized with your rising heart rate.
I listen to the border crossing song often. It’s so good
17:08 At this moment we realize that Kate is not the stone cold badass operator that we thought. It’s really these guys.
This is one of the funniest movies ever watch someone react to. You don't realize until the end that it is not Kate's story. That it is Alejandro's it is such an incredibly dark but well done movie
Other notable details often overlooked:
- Reggie finally realizes what’s going on, reciting doctrine with Matt when he gave up and told them the real reason for having a domestic agency present. Reggie knew it verbatim because of his law degree, hence Matt’s “no lawyers on this train” at the beginning when screening both of them.
- The beautiful sunset/tunnel raid scene you start to really get the full weight of the actual Sicario’s significance; the Delta boys in camo all have infrared(green) night vision, Alejandro in all black has thermal(black/white) night vision, and all shown shots are from each’s perspective.
- Alejandro only uses 3 lethal shots for the 3 family members, 2 for Fausto: Clearly intentional, 1st round went to his throat for just a little more suffering after watching his family die, then 2nd round to the head to end it.
Second Sicario is a decent action movie, but it’s a crime of how short it falls to its impeccably well-made first film
Denis Villeneuve did this. Hes got crazy visuals, cinematography, and sound design. Hes the guy that did Arrival, the Dunes, blade runner 2049, and prisoners. *Edit. Both 'Dune' movies.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado is also pretty good 👍
Shame Denis didnt return for the sequel
Right up there with Jarheads 2
I was going to say the same thing.
3:35 exactly! The fact that that guy was just standing there unfased while everyone else is struggling make me so curious about his history. Makes me think he has been through this way too many times and after seeing this he knew exactly what was how things were going to happen next. Looked like he was thinking "well here we go again."
If you ever smell a dead body you will never forget it, death has a particular smell
Yes, that is true. I used to work for a funeral home and it's a very distinctive smell. That's why when I watch movies that have these type of scenes my brain is triggered and I can smell it all over again
@@kurtsmith9564 25 years on and I know what you mean
And the only dead bodies I've ever encountered were of relatives that were readied up for funerals, and those are already 'beautified' and perfumed up to mask it.
I dread the day I ever encounter one that wasn't prepped.
I remember smelling death on the snakes my dad would crush the heads of. Then later the deer as he skinned and prepped them for eating. Then my grandpa when they cremated him. The smell of burning hair is the most pungent, right up there with flesh. It isn't something I'll forget.
Yep. And dead humans smell nothing like dead animals.
Captain America from Sons Of Anarchy wrote this movie. Also Benicio is in a movie this reminds me of called TRAFFIC with Michael Douglass.
If you wear flip flops to a high level meeting, you know you are a badass mo fo 😂
I'm not that emotional when I watch the movie, but when I watched Sicario, I was more tense and terrified of all that's happening than from ANY horror movie. The tone, the action, the dialogues, the atmosphere, it's all so on point, that you afraid of what happened next, but you can't stop
Great movie. I'm really glad people are starting to find his movie again.
i love how you said it should be the Alexandro movie when the movie is called sicario which in the first few seconds of the movie explained that sicario means hitman and Alexandro is the hitman they make the movie seem to be about Kate when its really about Alexandro. :)
I love the way you guys do your reactions keep it up I'll keep watching
Fantastic Movie!! Phenomenal Cast!!! Benicio, Emily and Josh totally made this movie come to life!!!
An interesting detail that many may have missed, is the reasoning for Brolin choosing Kate for the mission instead of Reggie. Kate has never worked "cases"(investigation/detective work?) and kicked in frontdoors since day 1. Reggie on the other hand had a ROTC scholarship, did a tour in Iraq but most importantly, got a law degree. So while both Kate and Reggie are experienced lawmen, the latter is more educated. So choosing the one who has been on the frontline since day 1 and never sat on a schoolbench is a nobrainer, easier to keep her in the dark. See 34:53, in which Reggie know some of the legal framework for CIA to operate domestically.
She was new and navive to the cartels.Her character was the audiences character,showing how ruthless the cartels are so that the audience see it through her eyes. Brolin used her because of CIA not being allowed to operate domesticly...But,the CIA does have a way to do that and that's a way complicated issue.
Not shown in this video but in the movie, Reggie also specifically tells Kate to avoid "these types of guys" because he's seen them do work in the sandbox and its best not to get involved. I think it was during the bus scene when Reggie calls Matt over to ask what they were doing, Matt specifically even says "f**kin' lawyers" because like you said, Reggie isn't just another crayon chewing bloodthirsty doorkicking canoe club member (IYKYK).
@@Project153 That's a good point, tying it to Reggie doing a tour in Iraq and having prior experiences with the CIA. It's been a long time since I've seen the movie, so just went from memory regarding this reaction video.
What alot of ppl miss about Alejandro killing Silvio is that he does it to ensure the safety of Silvio's family. Had he been allowed to live the cartel may well have considered him a traitor and punished him through his wife and son. Him getting killed during this infiltration clears his name in the eyes of his employer
Its why Alejandro tells him when they are driving out into the desert that everything that is happening is for his (Silvio's) family. In a way, it has double meaning
I never thought about this!
As a Mexican, that last scene hurts a lot. That is the reality in which we live every single day
If only people could stop snorting eh?
One of my favourite movie quotes ever.. “That’s like asking me how a watch works. For now let’s just keep an eye on the time.”
I literally shouted!! I can’t believe this is a first time watch!! So excited!
One of my favorite films from the 2010’s. Stellar cast, excellent story, wonderful direction. Very glad you watched and very glad you enjoyed it.
The jug of water in the torture/interogation scene wasn't for waterboarding. It was to wash away any evidence of what Alejandro did to him in the room. That's why it pans down slowly towards a dry floor drain and a jug that still has the seal on it. Also why the other american special ops left the room and turned off the camera.
What exactly was he supposed to be doing in there if not water boarding? I’m sure torture, so there would be a lot of blood to wash away.
this movie is a masterclass in building tension, there are so many youtube videos dissecting the border crossing scene, it is top tier cinema, so happy you noticed and mentioned.
PLEASE WATCH “WIND RIVER” another Taylor Sheridan Masterpiece, than “Hell or Highwater”
@@GlennShook definitely!
And the night vision that you were commenting on, are actually thermal imaging goggles, meaning that you are actually looking at the heat signature of everything around you, it’s much better for going underground where they were going, and there is no ambient light for regular night vision goggles to pick up.
This was unlike anything I'd ever seen in my life. It's a shame that more people don't know about this movie, because everything about it was damn near perfect. The characters, the plot, the cinematography, the writing. Not to mention the music was friggin phenomenal.
its part of the american frontier trilogy.
Hell or High Water and Wind River. are the next films you should watch
Such a good movie great cinematography believable characters and pushes the viewer into uncomfortable situations so much tension, and the music score fantastic
Kate represents the viewer
On the other side of the border, its a whole different world. And that goes for many places in the world. Your life is worth no more than the dirt you stand on. People should really appreciate all they have living in first world countries.
A masterpiece from the Denis Villeneuve-Roger Deakins duo ! So glad you reviewed this one !
Cinematographer is thr legendary Roger Deakins. The night scene in this film is awesome!
The tension in the scene going into Juarez was insane!!
Everyone is nuts for Dune, but Sicario is Villeneuve’s masterpiece and it isn’t even close.
This movie is so damn good, Benicio is just the GOAT. I didn't liked the 2nd one though but this is one of those movies that are done with care and it shows, it's just perfect 🔥
You should watch Wind River, written and directed by the same writer of this movie
happiness is watching nikki n steven react on a movie or series what i already watched
23:14 Yes. I used to live next to the US border. This happens all the time. Nobody should visit Mexico.
“What is happening there” @19:27 that would be water boarding. You put a towel or cloth over someone’s mouth and you poor water into it. The person gags and coughs a ton because it mimics drowning. The giveaway is the large water chug
Benicio's character was not an assassin for hire who would work for anyone. He was a former prosecuter in Mexico whose wife and daughter was murdered by the cartel as a warning not to keep doing his job. The point of him was not that he would work for anyone because he was a hitman. The point was that he would work for anyone that would help him get his revenge. So the CIA (Brolin) exploited that and used him as a hitman. They also used Kate because by law the CIA cannot operate on American soil without the cooperation and participation of the FBI. The CIA and Kate's bosses also exploited her in order to carry out this state sponsored assassination of the head of the cartel. All the actions of the U.S. government were actually illegal. And they knew it. That's why they kept Kate in the dark, then forced her to sign the paper saying everything they did was above board.
44:36 No, no you don't ever want to be known as the person who says, "Don't you know who I am?" Very bad karma.
Yes, it was for Alejandro to get his revenge. But, he was trained up as an assassin by the U.S. A useful tool. I guess you should watch Sicario 2. I think their should be a Sicario 3, featuring the tattooed kid, as a double agent neither side can fully trust. Would be an interesting movie.
This couple is genius. Outstanding IQ ! very impressive.
The film could have ended just fine after Alejandro walks away from Kate's apartment with his silhouette and brooding music. Nice tight conclusion. The fact it ended with the kids playing soccer, gunshots going off, both the kids and parents pause and turn to look in unison, then continue on playing with that somber-pensive score in the background is still quite moving. So, take your pick. Intense-holding-your-breath ending or suffering-yet-persevering ending. Both are excellent, IMHO.
The goal wasn't to get revenge for Alejandro. The Americans just worked with him because his goal aligned with theirs, they both wanted the Mexican bossman dead, just for different reasons.
I love the interaction with the community at the end of the video. The extra input elevates the discussion in my opinion. Keep up the good work :)
Denis Villeneuve is a master
This is a master class of cinematography and score
Bolin's character is only asking Kate those questions to see her vulnerability to compromise or threats. If was married with kids, that's a big problem. And Alejandro's comment at the end - "You will not survive here. You are not a wolf. And this is the land of wolves now." And was worried when Kate pointed the gun at him off the balcony since he warned her in the tunnel, "Do ever point a gun at me again." I was waiting from to turn, drop to a knee and end her.
I had a little different take on Alejandro when it came to Kate. He was protecting her all through the movie.
Telling her to take her service weapon out at the border crossing. Saving her from the dirty cop. Shooting her in the vest in the garage was the best of two choices. And in her apartment at the end, he made her sign the paper, because even if he didn't kill her, someone else would.
As Alejandro said, she reminded him of his daughter.
Alejandro absolutely had no intention of killing Kate when she was aiming at him. You'll notice he turned around and squared up with his hands completely down. There's multiple layers to that. Alejandro was alright with dying at that point because he'd completed his path of revenge. However, he also wanted to test Kate's resolve. If she pulled the trigger, she's become a "wolf" and was cut throat enough to replace him. If she didn't pull the trigger, she kept her righteous resolve and pure good morality, as he would have wanted a daughter to do. Either way, Alejandro would be proud of Kate's decision.
33:32 Hey, man. It’s acting, and Jon Bernthal did a great job.
You kept commenting the gorgeous shots in this film so I feel compelled to tell you that one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) directors of photography, Roger Deakins, is responsible for this absolute masterpiece. Previous work includes movies like Shawshank Redemption, Blade Runner 2049 and Skyfall (amongst many other beautiful films).
the movie looks amazing because the DP is the GOAT Roger Deakins
Oh, you guys are going to love this one. It is an extremely well made movie.
It’s amazing how real this movie depiction is. In all actuality the cartel violence in Mexico is 1000 times worse than what this movie shows. There are tens to hundreds of beheadings everyday in Mexico.
I just went and watched this movie just so I could come back and watch y’all’s reaction!
16:21 i would pull my weapon too, i don’t want to go back to the cartel as a failure lmao imagine the things that would happen to you
Exactly, if you died anyway but the cartel found out you chickened, I don't think your family would have a good time. Those guys had no other choice.
Pretty much
In case you're curious, at 41:00 he's not talking about the CIA running the drug cartel. He's saying it's easier to monitor and police a single drug cartel vs many.
The most amazing part in this movie is when the military unit drops in the desert and u go with them as a 1st person shooter!
Saw it for the first time recently, such a deeper movie then what I though it would be
Prisoners is another one by Denis Villeneuve. Different from this movie but just as good. And the writer for this movie also wrote Wind River, perhaps the most underrated film of the past decade.
Wind River is one of my favorite surprises of the last decade. Excellent movie.
"All I hear when Brolin talks is Thanos"-Steven
Funny, all I can hear when Brolin talks is Brand yelling, "Im gonna hit you so hard, when you wake up, your clothes are gonna be out of style! Mikey!!" 😂
NEXT… Sicario: Day of the Soldado!!!!
Yeah, not on the same level as the first one though!
There are posters of just moments in film. I have a few dozen, not to mention alternative posters. I love how your mind went there Nikki, and Steven likes that idea too!
React to the film: THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019), another insane psychological horror from A24, intense, sinister and with powerful performances, it's worth checking out.
Matt and Alejandro's characters were insane but Matt's is the scarier one because he's enjoying all the shit going down. Great movie and great reaction
There's a part 2 guys, which is totally nuts😮
Emily Blunt’s reaction at the border shooting was SO AUTHENTIC! 💯🔥🤙🏽😎