Watching the soldier's silhouettes descend into darkness was worth the price of admission alone I don't think there's been a better shot all year. Deakins is a god among men
I couldn't agree more! That was indeed a superb shot and as I was watching it I was thinking it's one of the best images I've seen in the cinema this year so far.
He does know how sound effects and music, make a movie. Dune adds to that. His art style is almost the same for all his sci fi, maybe from the same time line?!
Denis Villeneuve, Roger Deakins, Johann Johannsson, Bernicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt ..... Astonishingly Brilliant ...... One of the best films I have even experienced.
i just watcheg it and it was one of the best films I've seen this millenium, but I think it proves Denis Villeneuve needs to stay away from sci-fi and fantasy--THIS is his calling
I've enjoyed everything that Denis Villenue has done to date. This is a human story about morality. It's deliberately vague and has sustains a sense of mystery throughout until the ugly truth at the heart of this movie is revealed. He is a thinking director. Beautifully filmed (Roger Deakin). Bravo. 👏
@@mikeforbes7189 nah man, decaprio was trying too hard. That suffer porn gave the illusion of a good performance but nah. Decaprio is a movie star, he's not an actor. Del Toro is an actor.
The contrast between the main characters, Brolin, Blunt, and Del Toro is intriguing. The scene at the border checkpoint reaches its palpable conclusion, yet has been steadily building up from the instant they crossed the very same checkpoint in the opposite direction. The audience is completely captivated from start to finish of the whole scene. When it is over the viewer feels a physical severance from what they have just witnessed, which reminds us of just how engrossed we were. It is a rarity for me to experience that whilst watching a movie, which makes it so much more pleasurable. Great filmmaking.
You're absolutely right Roger Deakins is overdue an Oscar but unfortunately Sicario probably won't be the one to win him one because of the Revenant coming out towards the end of the year with Emmanuel Lubezki once again behind the lens.
Glad to hear about the editing style, and especially love Mark's description "...You can't see the film anymore because it keeps clicking". I've never understood the idea of a film seemingly wanting to ratchet up tension and a sense of dread, but then executes it's intention by stuffing what feels like 150 cuts into a sequence and turning the entire experience into a case of "What just happened?" for the viewer. Really looking forward to seeing this film next week, my hopes for Blade Runner 2 just went up considerably.
Totally caught my imagination, still not sure why. My film of the year. The score, the Deakin cinematography, the Brolin flip flops, the smart script, superb.
I'd recommend "Falling Down", starring Michael Douglas. A great film that starts off with a traffic jam that makes you feel the main character's frustration.
If it's not been said already, I'd add a big nod to Daniel Kaluuya; he was there to flesh out Emily Blunt and I believed their relationship. I cared about her because her mate cared about her.
Sicario is not really slang, it's quite an old word meaning assassin, from the latin "sicarius". If anything, it is quite an old fashioned word that has made a comeback, though Latin American Spanish tends to have a certain old fashioned flavour sometimes, compared to Peninsular Spanish. In Spain the preferred term in recent times had been "asesino a sueldo".
Absolutely Sublime film, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, not a second of ease. Along with a creepy soundtrack and eye watering cinematography, its well worth the price ticket and Del toro is as scary as hell.
Watched Sicario last night. This foreboding film can fill you with anonymous, confused dread as if by mind-control. There is a contrast right the way through of scenes of tired, exhausted calm and scenes of impossibly high tension, which brilliantly serve to exaggerate and amplify each other in a waxing and waining effect. The music - deep horns and medieval war drums - chilled me to the core. The violence is very rare, but horrific and so it stays with you through every second. When it comes to instilling emotion in the viewer, this film executes it to perfection. One of the best made films I've seen in years.
that scene where they are crossing the border with the prisoner, jesus christ. Was one of the most intense scenes ive ever seen. Brilliant, my favourite movie of 2015.
Deeply flawed review. He takes time to mention flip flops, but not the monumental score? The palpable dread and tension extended far beyond that of the traffic jam and permeates the entire film. But anyway, film of the year for me.
"That traffic jam is the best traffic jam I've seen in a long time." Also "That murder of a woman and two children is the best murder of a woman and two children I've seen in a long time."
As he mentions border dramas from the past, it seemed necessary to mention Touch of Evil. Truly a timeless movie that's camera work influenced everything. Shocking that it was made in 1958. Sicario was cool, someone just needs to tell Josh Brolin to stop chewing during his scenes. It's like a tick.
I heard some people complaining about the script of this movie but I don't understand why. I don't know any soldiers/FBI/CIA agents but I believe that's how they really speak: don't talk much and give misleading answers or not answering questions at all. When I watch other movies it always annoys me when soldiers (or agents) are very talkative - it just doesn't seem real to me.
The film is led by outstanding roles, tight thrills, terrific direction & A script that makes the film better then it looks. (92%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)
I thought this was the year's best film so far (next to Inside Out), really worth seeing more than once. However, I thought Blunt's performance was surprisingly bland, although it's possible I was just too interested in Del Toro's character. And I'm not sure this will win Deakins an Oscar (although it's magnificently shot), because he'll be competing again with Emmanuel Lubezki for The Revenant (assuming both get nominated).
Brilliant movie, so many great scenes. Benico Del Toro and Emily Blunts interactions are so tense. Its like he knows she is well out her depth and wants to protect her in a way. 👍
Can someone explain what the purpose of restoring power to the Colombians would do? It wasn't clear to me how that would help America's war against the cartels. Also, what was Alarcòn referring to when he said "who do you think we learned it from" to Benicio's character?
Alejandro would be the new Cartel leader in Mexico, by being placed in that position by the US government. The reason being that if they can control or influence the man they put in power, Alejandro, than they have more power on the drug war thats spilling violence over into their borders. A similar example would be the proxy governments that the US set up in Afghanistan and Iraq. Though these were failures in many ways, what they have done is started a framework of control in a foreign nation for its own benefits and security. Much like any Empire before it. As for the "Where do you think we learned it from" quote, the cartel leader was explaining that everything he had achieved, and what he had done to others was no different from what those in power over Alejandro, the US government, have done to other nations or people. Frankly though, every crime lord, and every Empire has done this over the course of mankind. We learn through history how to rule and control for our own interests.
LucaEnzo Of course they are. The middle east had a somewhat stable, though ruthless governments in control prior to the outbreak of the Afghan/Iraqi war. That all went away once the US invaded. Now, since the US invasion, and after the major battles had concluded, US corporations moved in for resource control and manufacturing rights. They call this Government contracts. They bring in business men and entrepreneurs who work with local business men and politicians and they take this knowledge of mass development to their new government where they then begin to develop new Legislature. Don't look at it as being "controlled" by the US directly, but rather influenced by the influx of business and method of government.
Why are anti-imperialists permanently stuck in 2005? They can’t seem to move beyond that point. At the time this comment was written, the Iraqi government was in the middle of doing what the Afghan government later failed to do, and quite publicly too. Five years later the idea that Iraq is a US proxy looks increasingly silly. Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of the largest party in Iraqi Parliament, is many things, but he is most certainly not an American bootlicker. It should have been obvious in 2015 what Iraq had become. A state overwhelmingly, and in equal parts, influenced by TWO governments that are hostile to one another (the USA and Iran). But no, apparently to anti-imperialists, everything is exactly as it was prior to the Daesh’s rampage. It kind of reminds me of the era between 2006 and 2014, when they were delusion-ally clinging to the idea that the insurgency was some sort of noble, mostly secular resistance against imperialism. When in fact the insurgency had quite clearly become an emanation of genocidal religious fanaticism.
Rewatching this review. Notice mark mentions about them building the street in heat either way to have total control. That wasn’t the case over the course of many weeks they had to shoot the scene on weekends if I recall and everything had to be put in place over and over.
Can you explain this thesis ? I’ve just watched it for the first time. To me she represents the fool, the innocent child. Hence the scene at the end when he says she looks like a scared little girl. She’s too innocent to be the villain. She’s too dumb in other words. She is even called a sheep. What was her evil master plan? What bad acts did she make intentionally for her own self gain ? She has to be the most incompetent movie villain in all time. She was even bait in that crazy seduction scene. Don’t go into the bank and the fool rushes into the bank haha the more I think about it makes me look forward to what you think. I believe they call her rookie when they interview her. She is clearly being used and has no clue what’s going on. Think about the shoot out the scenes all of the guys are focused but she looks nervous and out of her depth. I didn’t mean to write so much but your thesis is so poor for someone who has seen the film so many times. I thought I missed something but on reflection she’s no chance the villain. Perhaps you think Bambi is a villain too? :)
As much as I enjoyed this (looked & sounded beautiful, and the acting is superb throughout), I came away with the feeling that Blunt's character had no impact on the outcome of either the central mission or the film in general. Must have missed something. Will watch again.
It depends what you consider to be the central plot. You can either perceive it as centering around the cartel conflict itself (in which case, she doesn't really affect the outcome), or you can perceive it as centering around the internal conflicts and the dilemma of a character who has been recruited for something she doesn't understand. For me, the latter theme is at the heart and soul of the film and is what makes it interesting. I know you posted 4 years ago. This is fresh in my mind because I just saw it :p
Finally watched this film last night (Actually found it on Amazon Prime in the US just browsing) and it was quite something. Also, couldn't help but notice similarities between True Detective and this movie. Long, wide shots of the landscape with tension-building music.
I like to think Alejandro is actually part of the CIA, because he does make her sign the contract an she doesnt kill him knowing that maybe he is part of the CIA etc
Both this movie and its sequel are much more intelligent critiques of border and drug trade issues than anything in the popular media centred around opposing Trump's wall ever was.
This movie's poster tagline is so stupid and clunky that it actually put me off going to see it. After hearing this review and reading the comments I'll have to revise my decision, but still. Is there a reason for said poster line, or is it just incredibly clumsy marketing? (For those who don't know, the line is: 'In Mexico, SICARIO means hitman.')
I agree with almost everything Mark is saying but I left the cinema disappointed. The cinematography was great as was the traffic jam sequence. The problem I had was the film was so Kafkaesque that when the final act came it was underwhelming and a little predictable.
The main problem with this film is Emily Blunt's character, while interesting in itself is an unnecessary passenger from the point of view of the mission. So she's there to be the audience's eyes but she's not really part of the mission and whenever she tries to do anything she gets told off for doing so. They keep saying they need her when they actually don't. The real protagonist is Benicio del Toro's character but the focus is not on him at all until much later in the film. So the audience is conned in very insulting way and you get bored waiting for Emily Blunt's character's purpose to become apparent until eventually the focus is switched to Benicio del Toro. Everything apart from the script is brilliant, but without a good script it really fell flat for me.
The audience is supposed to empathize with her. Benicio Del Toro character may be the more compelling antihero. He just as culpable for the chaos happening as the cartels. More Mexican Civilians will die because of the Power Vacuum created. She is the only person close to a good person in the movie. She wants to build criminal cases not enter a endless war of using dirty black ops.
Yes but her presence at all doesn't make sense to the plot. It's as if they contrived a flimsy reason for her to be there just so we could look on with the same lack of information that she has. But she serves no function there whatsoever. They do the job as if she hadn't been there at all. To make it worse she actually threatens to walk at one point and that actually means something to them.
+saxbend She's there to provide the film with a conscience, to be the white light in amidst so much evil, and her inner struggle to try and not be dragged into this corrupt sinister world is what I found to be most compelling about her character.
they needed her to legitimize their cover story for what was actually just a brutal, inhumane revenge mission. the script is good. you might have missed a few things.
saxbend They used her for cover from Political blowback. Maybe they won't be prosecuted by foreign governments but if American administration changes or decides to bury a scandal with some scapegoats. They are most likely to be first on that list.
Roger Deakins is brilliant working with computers. A director of photography that relies on CGI to create perfect scenes. He´s a joke compared to Dean Cundey or Owen Roizman.
Blunt's (Kate) character makes the film work, because she's a morally upright character - and the whole drama of the film ends up being whether she can preserve her innocence and sense of justice as she's drawn further into the darkness. It's a bible-like story about temptation and preserving one's goodness in the midst of so much evil.
blunts character is absolutely essential to the movie. not only as a lens to focus the audiences confusion and unease, but also because plot wise (and many critics seem to have missed this), the whole operation is not able to go ahead without her, or another FBI agent, being there.
The imagery here is worrisome: the acceptability of heavily armed "technicals" in pursuit of criminals on the streets of North America - not Iraq nor Helmand. Is this what we have let ourselves become? If so maybe we are already lost; the disease of criminality infects indiscriminately, "friend" and foes alike. So too this visual parallel has another duality that of the "war on drugs". It begs the question why does the west compartmentalises terrorism and drugs when it is so clear they share a common origin. Shouldn't this cinematic violence be centred on roaring around the streets of Afghanistan and not Mexico?
The US is an authoritarian police state and has been for a long long time. Its a country that kills its citizens first and asks questions later. So I wouldn't worry too much about the film.
Watching the soldier's silhouettes descend into darkness was worth the price of admission alone I don't think there's been a better shot all year. Deakins is a god among men
Someone hasn't seen Macbeth
Alextromagnetic really looking forward to it! Macbeth and The Revenant are the only movies I can see giving Deakins a run for his money this year
I couldn't agree more! That was indeed a superb shot and as I was watching it I was thinking it's one of the best images I've seen in the cinema this year so far.
Solid Föx What did I say?
+Jake Gittes yep that entire sequence was very well done. Some of the backdrops in the film were awe-inspiring.
Honestly one of the best films I've seen in years
The Tykjen only a week to go and early critic reviews are really more than positive.
@Tykjen I come from the future, they were both amazing, specially Blade Runner 2049
@Tykjen 👁🔮
I think the soundtrack was definitely worth mentioning
Definitely agree with that. Unreal soundtrack. One of many from Jóhann Jóhannsson. He’s a massive loss.
The music really made that traffic jam scene.
He does know how sound effects and music, make a movie. Dune adds to that.
His art style is almost the same for all his sci fi, maybe from the same time line?!
Emily Blunt is terrific as a professional who suddenly realises that they are completely out of their depth. Completely.
Denis Villeneuve, Roger Deakins, Johann Johannsson, Bernicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt ..... Astonishingly Brilliant ...... One of the best films I have even experienced.
i just watcheg it and it was one of the best films I've seen this millenium, but I think it proves Denis Villeneuve needs to stay away from sci-fi and fantasy--THIS is his calling
@@markpaterson2053 he can clearly take tension, apprehension, fear, intensity and apply it to any genre. It works extremely well in sci fi.
Incredible movie. Outrageously tense.
Loved it, Villeneuve strikes gold again. Great cinematography.
I've enjoyed everything that Denis Villenue has done to date.
This is a human story about morality. It's deliberately vague and has sustains a sense of mystery throughout until the ugly truth at the heart of this movie is revealed.
He is a thinking director. Beautifully filmed (Roger Deakin).
Bravo. 👏
Benicio Del Toro is still the performance to beat this year for me.
+Conner Nielsen I guess you haven't seen Leonardo di caprio in The Revenant?
+Mike Forbes yes, I have. He was great! But not Del Toro great.
Well we shall have to agree to disagree :)
@@mikeforbes7189 nah man, decaprio was trying too hard. That suffer porn gave the illusion of a good performance but nah. Decaprio is a movie star, he's not an actor. Del Toro is an actor.
The contrast between the main characters, Brolin, Blunt, and Del Toro is intriguing. The scene at the border checkpoint reaches its palpable conclusion, yet has been steadily building up from the instant they crossed the very same checkpoint in the opposite direction. The audience is completely captivated from start to finish of the whole scene. When it is over the viewer feels a physical severance from what they have just witnessed, which reminds us of just how engrossed we were. It is a rarity for me to experience that whilst watching a movie, which makes it so much more pleasurable.
Great filmmaking.
You're absolutely right Roger Deakins is overdue an Oscar but unfortunately Sicario probably won't be the one to win him one because of the Revenant coming out towards the end of the year with Emmanuel Lubezki once again behind the lens.
Kermode & Mayo on RUclips are in my top 3 favourite things about Fridays.
+Bod Notbod up there with crunchies
+maniq minah
Crunchies?
+Bod Notbod whats the other 2?
My hat delivery from A-Hat-A-Week.com and watching the bin man from my window.
Glad to hear about the editing style, and especially love Mark's description "...You can't see the film anymore because it keeps clicking". I've never understood the idea of a film seemingly wanting to ratchet up tension and a sense of dread, but then executes it's intention by stuffing what feels like 150 cuts into a sequence and turning the entire experience into a case of "What just happened?" for the viewer. Really looking forward to seeing this film next week, my hopes for Blade Runner 2 just went up considerably.
most badass character of 2015 - Alejandro :) Del Toro & Blunt really deserve oscar nominations
Villeneuve is undoubtedly one the greatest modern Directors. His films are both bold and beautiful...
Great film , agree with Marks review but would add that the Industrial sounding Score is incredible and really contributes
2019 .. I want to watch it again now.
Totally caught my imagination, still not sure why. My film of the year. The score, the Deakin cinematography, the Brolin flip flops, the smart script, superb.
Mark Kermodes top 5 traffic jam movies plz
I'd recommend "Falling Down", starring Michael Douglas. A great film that starts off with a traffic jam that makes you feel the main character's frustration.
Great sound track too. Up there with Jaws for ramping up the tension.
If it's not been said already, I'd add a big nod to Daniel Kaluuya; he was there to flesh out Emily Blunt and I believed their relationship. I cared about her because her mate cared about her.
Sicario is not really slang, it's quite an old word meaning assassin, from the latin "sicarius". If anything, it is quite an old fashioned word that has made a comeback, though Latin American Spanish tends to have a certain old fashioned flavour sometimes, compared to Peninsular Spanish. In Spain the preferred term in recent times had been "asesino a sueldo".
So it means assassin rather than hitman?
Best film of the decade for me
exceptional movie tense dark and just pure cinematic brilliance loved every second of sicario need to see it again to be honest
"Heli" from director Amat Escalante is such a great film! I was surprised he even mentioned the film to the fact that the movie is in Spanish.
Absolutely Sublime film, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, not a second of ease. Along with a creepy soundtrack and eye watering cinematography, its well worth the price ticket and Del toro is as scary as hell.
Watched Sicario last night. This foreboding film can fill you with anonymous, confused dread as if by mind-control. There is a contrast right the way through of scenes of tired, exhausted calm and scenes of impossibly high tension, which brilliantly serve to exaggerate and amplify each other in a waxing and waining effect. The music - deep horns and medieval war drums - chilled me to the core. The violence is very rare, but horrific and so it stays with you through every second. When it comes to instilling emotion in the viewer, this film executes it to perfection. One of the best made films I've seen in years.
THAT border scene. Wow. Tension
that scene where they are crossing the border with the prisoner, jesus christ. Was one of the most intense scenes ive ever seen. Brilliant, my favourite movie of 2015.
Deeply flawed review. He takes time to mention flip flops, but not the monumental score? The palpable dread and tension extended far beyond that of the traffic jam and permeates the entire film. But anyway, film of the year for me.
+cycodamo he did mention the score (and more) on the podcast, but they cut it off in this RUclips segment.
"That traffic jam is the best traffic jam I've seen in a long time."
Also "That murder of a woman and two children is the best murder of a woman and two children I've seen in a long time."
And you didn't even see it
The convoy shootout scene at the border coming out of Juarez will go down as legendary 👍 only Roger Deakins could have shot it that way 🤔
Really liked this film. Shot beautifully, great performances from everyone and super duper tense.
Can someone please spell out what he says at 8:10. Soft reget? Sorry, english is my second language. Thanks in advance.
+Christiam Marquez I believe he was talking about the film Suffragette.
That dinner table scene though
Sicario have the tensest moment ever caught, filmed.....The border crossing. There is nothing like it.
what are some of the less good traffic jams you've seen lately, mark?
Probably every single one we can't remember. Hence Sicario's genius.
Falling Down would be in my extensively short list.
As he mentions border dramas from the past, it seemed necessary to mention Touch of Evil. Truly a timeless movie that's camera work influenced everything. Shocking that it was made in 1958. Sicario was cool, someone just needs to tell Josh Brolin to stop chewing during his scenes. It's like a tick.
brilliant movie. I recommend it highly.
I heard some people complaining about the script of this movie but I don't understand why. I don't know any soldiers/FBI/CIA agents but I believe that's how they really speak: don't talk much and give misleading answers or not answering questions at all. When I watch other movies it always annoys me when soldiers (or agents) are very talkative - it just doesn't seem real to me.
It's a work of fiction meaning to be dramatic.
Really enjoyed Sicario, Great cast and Emily does fantastic as usual, But Benicio Del Toro steals the show..!.
The film is led by outstanding roles, tight thrills, terrific direction & A script that makes the film better then it looks. (92%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)
Sicario is a superb movie.
How did they get away with releasing this film? Best film experience I've had for quite some time.
Emily Blunt nailed this. I gave her the oscar already.
I thought this was the year's best film so far (next to Inside Out), really worth seeing more than once. However, I thought Blunt's performance was surprisingly bland, although it's possible I was just too interested in Del Toro's character. And I'm not sure this will win Deakins an Oscar (although it's magnificently shot), because he'll be competing again with Emmanuel Lubezki for The Revenant (assuming both get nominated).
full throttle. loved this film. Blunt was superb.
I watched the whole movie twice and selected scenes too many to count. These director and DOP are my new favorites.
I’ll save u the 9 mins … he likes the movie
Brilliant movie, so many great scenes. Benico Del Toro and Emily Blunts interactions are so tense. Its like he knows she is well out her depth and wants to protect her in a way. 👍
Can someone explain what the purpose of restoring power to the Colombians would do? It wasn't clear to me how that would help America's war against the cartels. Also, what was Alarcòn referring to when he said "who do you think we learned it from" to Benicio's character?
Alejandro would be the new Cartel leader in Mexico, by being placed in that position by the US government. The reason being that if they can control or influence the man they put in power, Alejandro, than they have more power on the drug war thats spilling violence over into their borders. A similar example would be the proxy governments that the US set up in Afghanistan and Iraq. Though these were failures in many ways, what they have done is started a framework of control in a foreign nation for its own benefits and security. Much like any Empire before it. As for the "Where do you think we learned it from" quote, the cartel leader was explaining that everything he had achieved, and what he had done to others was no different from what those in power over Alejandro, the US government, have done to other nations or people. Frankly though, every crime lord, and every Empire has done this over the course of mankind. We learn through history how to rule and control for our own interests.
how dare you call the Iraq and Afghanistan governments proxies of the US
LucaEnzo Of course they are. The middle east had a somewhat stable, though ruthless governments in control prior to the outbreak of the Afghan/Iraqi war. That all went away once the US invaded. Now, since the US invasion, and after the major battles had concluded, US corporations moved in for resource control and manufacturing rights. They call this Government contracts. They bring in business men and entrepreneurs who work with local business men and politicians and they take this knowledge of mass development to their new government where they then begin to develop new Legislature. Don't look at it as being "controlled" by the US directly, but rather influenced by the influx of business and method of government.
@@LucaEnzo was that a joke?
Why are anti-imperialists permanently stuck in 2005? They can’t seem to move beyond that point. At the time this comment was written, the Iraqi government was in the middle of doing what the Afghan government later failed to do, and quite publicly too.
Five years later the idea that Iraq is a US proxy looks increasingly silly. Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of the largest party in Iraqi Parliament, is many things, but he is most certainly not an American bootlicker.
It should have been obvious in 2015 what Iraq had become. A state overwhelmingly, and in equal parts, influenced by TWO governments that are hostile to one another (the USA and Iran). But no, apparently to anti-imperialists, everything is exactly as it was prior to the Daesh’s rampage. It kind of reminds me of the era between 2006 and 2014, when they were delusion-ally clinging to the idea that the insurgency was some sort of noble, mostly secular resistance against imperialism. When in fact the insurgency had quite clearly become an emanation of genocidal religious fanaticism.
As well as Mann, I got a huge Paul Greengrass & Kathryn Bigelow vibe from the precision direction. Exceptional film.
I watch this movie once evry year... it's badass with a capital B. Everybody is on point and Villeneuve is a stud.
top movie with out of this world/space sound!! JJ is maestro..
Kill .Admit nothing . Deny everything . Make counter accusations .Repeat.
I heard from many people that this is a very good film.
+Luvie1980 It's a real thrill ride
Really really enjoyed it
Whats the Mexican movie he mentions at the beginning? Sounds like Hele?
Heli it's called. great film.
Thanks!
Came here with the exact same issue. Thanks a bunch.
I like the bit with the clicks. :)
When are we getting Mark Kemode's top 10 traffic jams of cinema?
Emily Blunt's voice in this is sooooooooooo soothing. Beautiful woman.
Rewatching this review. Notice mark mentions about them building the street in heat either way to have total control. That wasn’t the case over the course of many weeks they had to shoot the scene on weekends if I recall and everything had to be put in place over and over.
Great review, great movie.
did he say 'Nietzschean borderland'?
yes
7 years later...watching this movie after the 5th time, Emily Blunt's character is the Villain. :)
Yeah right.
@@jcp1984again She's 100% not the protagonist.
Can you explain this thesis ? I’ve just watched it for the first time. To me she represents the fool, the innocent child. Hence the scene at the end when he says she looks like a scared little girl. She’s too innocent to be the villain. She’s too dumb in other words. She is even called a sheep. What was her evil master plan? What bad acts did she make intentionally for her own self gain ? She has to be the most incompetent movie villain in all time. She was even bait in that crazy seduction scene. Don’t go into the bank and the fool rushes into the bank haha the more I think about it makes me look forward to what you think. I believe they call her rookie when they interview her. She is clearly being used and has no clue what’s going on. Think about the shoot out the scenes all of the guys are focused but she looks nervous and out of her depth. I didn’t mean to write so much but your thesis is so poor for someone who has seen the film so many times. I thought I missed something but on reflection she’s no chance the villain. Perhaps you think Bambi is a villain too? :)
The musical score added a bunch to the tension of the film
As much as I enjoyed this (looked & sounded beautiful, and the acting is superb throughout), I came away with the feeling that Blunt's character had no impact on the outcome of either the central mission or the film in general. Must have missed something. Will watch again.
It depends what you consider to be the central plot. You can either perceive it as centering around the cartel conflict itself (in which case, she doesn't really affect the outcome), or you can perceive it as centering around the internal conflicts and the dilemma of a character who has been recruited for something she doesn't understand. For me, the latter theme is at the heart and soul of the film and is what makes it interesting.
I know you posted 4 years ago. This is fresh in my mind because I just saw it :p
Finally watched this film last night (Actually found it on Amazon Prime in the US just browsing) and it was quite something.
Also, couldn't help but notice similarities between True Detective and this movie. Long, wide shots of the landscape with tension-building music.
Villeneuve and Fukunaga have quite a lot in common now I think about it
Best film of 2015, Close second Mad Max.
Okay, now at the 8:00 minute mark. When does the guest get to speak?
+John Ellett What are you talking about?
Great film
I like to think Alejandro is actually part of the CIA, because he does make her sign the contract an she doesnt kill him knowing that maybe he is part of the CIA etc
It's so that his role in the operation isn't uncovered or on record.
Remind me again why you would put dead bodies in the wall and not the ground?
Bad back?
@@TheStarBlack 🤣🤣🤣
Unreal movie
Baffling to me how Emily Blunt has not been nominated for an oscar...Mystifying.
Both this movie and its sequel are much more intelligent critiques of border and drug trade issues than anything in the popular media centred around opposing Trump's wall ever was.
This movie's poster tagline is so stupid and clunky that it actually put me off going to see it. After hearing this review and reading the comments I'll have to revise my decision, but still. Is there a reason for said poster line, or is it just incredibly clumsy marketing?
(For those who don't know, the line is: 'In Mexico, SICARIO means hitman.')
The first 4 mins are here just summarizing the plot, I thought critics were supposed to avoid that?
Really enjoyed this film. After Marks review, I will not be watching the sequel.
This, The Martian, Mad Max and Me and the dying girl
They made an ok script an great movie, not easy.
Awesome piece of cinema. IMO, it is a horror story. One of the very best films I have ever seen.
Does Kermode never get tired of bringing up Nietszche?
+Socialists Are SCUM Why would you?
All over the place with this.
I agree with almost everything Mark is saying but I left the cinema disappointed. The cinematography was great as was the traffic jam sequence. The problem I had was the film was so Kafkaesque that when the final act came it was underwhelming and a little predictable.
+mildale Agree, actually found that most of the 2nd half dragged. 1st half was amazing.
+mildale predictable or inevitable?
Dennis? Really?
The main problem with this film is Emily Blunt's character, while interesting in itself is an unnecessary passenger from the point of view of the mission. So she's there to be the audience's eyes but she's not really part of the mission and whenever she tries to do anything she gets told off for doing so. They keep saying they need her when they actually don't. The real protagonist is Benicio del Toro's character but the focus is not on him at all until much later in the film. So the audience is conned in very insulting way and you get bored waiting for Emily Blunt's character's purpose to become apparent until eventually the focus is switched to Benicio del Toro. Everything apart from the script is brilliant, but without a good script it really fell flat for me.
The audience is supposed to empathize with her. Benicio Del Toro character may be the more compelling antihero. He just as culpable for the chaos happening as the cartels. More Mexican Civilians will die because of the Power Vacuum created. She is the only person close to a good person in the movie. She wants to build criminal cases not enter a endless war of using dirty black ops.
Yes but her presence at all doesn't make sense to the plot. It's as if they contrived a flimsy reason for her to be there just so we could look on with the same lack of information that she has. But she serves no function there whatsoever. They do the job as if she hadn't been there at all. To make it worse she actually threatens to walk at one point and that actually means something to them.
+saxbend She's there to provide the film with a conscience, to be the white light in amidst so much evil, and her inner struggle to try and not be dragged into this corrupt sinister world is what I found to be most compelling about her character.
they needed her to legitimize their cover story for what was actually just a brutal, inhumane revenge mission. the script is good. you might have missed a few things.
saxbend They used her for cover from Political blowback. Maybe they won't be prosecuted by foreign governments but if American administration changes or decides to bury a scandal with some scapegoats. They are most likely to be first on that list.
Sicarioooooio
alleyondrow? kermode butchered that characters name...
Just finished watching it, thought Emily Blunt was killed or was she.🤔
Oh and a very thought provoking morality play about power and corruption. Could as easily be about Syria?
cinematography and score were great but i was unimpressed with the story and the ending was an anti climax for me
Heli is brutal! - like Gomorroh its totally realistic
Great movie. Poor date movie
Haha, what happened?!
I think Kermode needs to brush up on his Nietzsche...
Wasn't a huge fan of prisoners but I might have to watch this
How did you not like that movie?
Roger Deakins is brilliant working with computers. A director of photography that relies on CGI to create perfect scenes. He´s a joke compared to Dean Cundey or Owen Roizman.
Could have been a classic if Del Toro's character was the protagonist. Blunt's character was a waste of time and ruined the movie.
It didn't ruined the movie, Blunt's character was for thematic effect.
Then it would have just been a typical revenge film
The 2nd movie had benicio far more, and boy does it not even come close to the 1st.
Blunt's (Kate) character makes the film work, because she's a morally upright character - and the whole drama of the film ends up being whether she can preserve her innocence and sense of justice as she's drawn further into the darkness. It's a bible-like story about temptation and preserving one's goodness in the midst of so much evil.
blunts character is absolutely essential to the movie. not only as a lens to focus the audiences confusion and unease, but also because plot wise (and many critics seem to have missed this), the whole operation is not able to go ahead without her, or another FBI agent, being there.
The imagery here is worrisome: the acceptability of heavily armed "technicals" in pursuit of criminals on the streets of North America - not Iraq nor Helmand. Is this what we have let ourselves become? If so maybe we are already lost; the disease of criminality infects indiscriminately, "friend" and foes alike. So too this visual parallel has another duality that of the "war on drugs". It begs the question why does the west compartmentalises terrorism and drugs when it is so clear they share a common origin. Shouldn't this cinematic violence be centred on roaring around the streets of Afghanistan and not Mexico?
The US is an authoritarian police state and has been for a long long time. Its a country that kills its citizens first and asks questions later. So I wouldn't worry too much about the film.
This movie is disgustingly unrealistic