By Jackson Weaver
Staff Writer
The ‘War on Drugs’ has never felt more realistic on screen than in the brutal war against lawless cartels on both sides of the Mexican-American border in Denis Villenueve’s film “Sicario”.
“Sicario”, by Denis Villenueve, succeeds in realistically protraying the anarchic violence against drug lords, and impresses with vivid depictions of the bloody and gruesome battle against the cartel. This motion picture film thrives due to talented acting from FBI agent (Emily Blunt) and a shadowy “DEA investigator” (Benicio del Toro).
As tension builds along the Mexican-American border, idealistic FBI agent, Kate Macy (Emily Blunt), is recruited by an elite government task force official, Matt (Josh Bolin), to alleviate exceeding pressures caused by the cartel. Led by Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), a mysterious consultant with an unknown past, the team sets out on an illegitimate and dangerous mission that questions everything that Kate believes in.
The tone is set at the very beginning of the film when Kate and a SWAT team raids the property owned by a well known drug lord. Lining the walls of the house are 42 dead bodies with bags covering their heads which proves to be a vivid depicting the horrendous nature of the drug war. This nail biting and bone chilling opener to the film sets a serious tone that is continually expressed throughout the film’s entirety.
Emily Blunt’s electric performance in Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” is carried into her newest role in “Sicario.” Blunt is portrayed as the leader of an FBI team selected to join a group tracking down drug lords. Blunt breaks boundaries as a female actress playing the role of a leading officer in a male dominated field, proving that gender roles and societal stereotypes are irrelevant which is an empowering concept for viewers.
Benicio del Toro’s shady role in the film contrasts Emily Blunt’s highly emotional role as he is portrayed as almost entirely emotionless. Del Toro is depicted as the team’s quiet yet deadly mentor with an icy voice that adds to mystery surrounding him.
The setting takes place in several areas across the Mexican-American border ranging from Arizona to Juarez, Mexico. For the short time spent in Juarez, the trip has very vivid details of the horrors that take place there. For example, Blunt and the team have to be escorted by a dozen Mexican police and military vehicles for protection. The scenery in Juarez is gruesome but realistic as they drive along a freeway with 4 people hanging off of the freeway. Many of them missing extremities and others without heads accurately illustrating the appalling events occurring just across the border.
In addition, the film delivers relatable themes that are prevalent in society today. Drugs have become increasingly and attainable illegally popular in both the United States and Mexico, and cartels are starting to exploit people to make a profit. These ideas or issues in the film provide relevancy in society today and the unboundless problems that it can cause.
“Sicario” captures the idea of the ‘War on Drugs’ perfectly proving itself to be a classic action film. With a group of strong actors and direction, Denis Villenueve realistically ties together a pertinent subject in society today.
“Sicario” is rated R and is playing in theaters nationwide.
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