“Those who fight monsters should see to it in
the process that they do not become monsters, and when you gaze long into the
abyss, the abyss gazes back into you”. It’s a very old quote from philosopher
Fredrick Nietzsche, but it’s one that is evident in cinema and literature
across decades. Sicario isn’t an original story by any means, Kate Macer is an
FBI agent who is offered a chance to join Josh Brolin’s shady agent and his
team in taking on the Mexican cartel’s. What makes Sicario as extraordinary as it
is, is the execution. The performances are brilliant, Josh Brolin plays the
cocky all American agent, but he’s incredibly shady and right from the off you
know he’s hiding something, it’s a difficult thing to pull off, but he makes it
seem effortless. Then there’s the outstanding supporting role from Benicio Del
Toro as an even shadier character called Alejandro, he’s referred to as an
‘advisor’ but he’s something much darker, Del Toro has a face that holds so
many conflictions, he looks world weary but he’s also really supportive to Kate
in parts, and then in its climax he shows his full descent into the abyss.
Emily Blunt is brilliant in the lead role, she’s captivating as someone who
wants to do the right thing in an impossible situation and she has a brilliant
talent of embodying the audience, she is as confused as us for the most part.
But what separates this from the usual thrillers is the tone it creates. It has
one of the best opening sequences which throws you in at the deep end and sets
up the darkness this film and in particular Kate is in. The score from Johan
Johansson is exceptional, its dark and oppressive and nails the tone of the
film. DP Roger Deakins shows once again why he is long overdue an Oscar, one
shot of a team of special ops descending a hill at twilight is genuinely one of
the most extraordinary shots I have ever seen. In amongst all these are
director Denis Villenvue, after everyone else its difficult not to lose sight
of the director, but his style is really developing, what’s refreshing is a
director who isn’t afraid to let the camera run, he doesn’t use cuts to hide
anything, moments of dialogue he just pulls back and watches it happen. After
the success of Prisoners and Enemy, Sicario indicates that Villenvue is one to
really keep an eye on. (High 5 Stars)
Monday, 23 November 2015
Sicario Review
“Those who fight monsters should see to it in
the process that they do not become monsters, and when you gaze long into the
abyss, the abyss gazes back into you”. It’s a very old quote from philosopher
Fredrick Nietzsche, but it’s one that is evident in cinema and literature
across decades. Sicario isn’t an original story by any means, Kate Macer is an
FBI agent who is offered a chance to join Josh Brolin’s shady agent and his
team in taking on the Mexican cartel’s. What makes Sicario as extraordinary as it
is, is the execution. The performances are brilliant, Josh Brolin plays the
cocky all American agent, but he’s incredibly shady and right from the off you
know he’s hiding something, it’s a difficult thing to pull off, but he makes it
seem effortless. Then there’s the outstanding supporting role from Benicio Del
Toro as an even shadier character called Alejandro, he’s referred to as an
‘advisor’ but he’s something much darker, Del Toro has a face that holds so
many conflictions, he looks world weary but he’s also really supportive to Kate
in parts, and then in its climax he shows his full descent into the abyss.
Emily Blunt is brilliant in the lead role, she’s captivating as someone who
wants to do the right thing in an impossible situation and she has a brilliant
talent of embodying the audience, she is as confused as us for the most part.
But what separates this from the usual thrillers is the tone it creates. It has
one of the best opening sequences which throws you in at the deep end and sets
up the darkness this film and in particular Kate is in. The score from Johan
Johansson is exceptional, its dark and oppressive and nails the tone of the
film. DP Roger Deakins shows once again why he is long overdue an Oscar, one
shot of a team of special ops descending a hill at twilight is genuinely one of
the most extraordinary shots I have ever seen. In amongst all these are
director Denis Villenvue, after everyone else its difficult not to lose sight
of the director, but his style is really developing, what’s refreshing is a
director who isn’t afraid to let the camera run, he doesn’t use cuts to hide
anything, moments of dialogue he just pulls back and watches it happen. After
the success of Prisoners and Enemy, Sicario indicates that Villenvue is one to
really keep an eye on. (High 5 Stars)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment