Title: Sicario 
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Denis Villaneuve
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro
Runtime: 2 hr 1 min

What It Is: Kate Macer (Blunt) is a young FBI agent in charge of a kidnapping squad in Southern Arizona. When she is recruited for a special task force led by Matt Graver (Brolin) and his Columbian “partner” Alejandro. She is told her goal (along with this group) is to find the man that was responsible for the “murder house” she just experienced. A man named Fausto Alarcon, leader of the Sonora cartel. As she heads to El Paso in order to begin the case, she may be in for more than she anticipates.

What We Think: Denis Villaneuve is a rockstar! Not only is this film brilliantly put together, but when coupled with Roger Deakins cinematography it is just too well shot for it’s own good. There’s some issues with the lack of character building, but some of that gets fudged over by the excellent acting. Villaneuve builds and builds the tension to a point where you feel breathless and arrested by his visuals. After all that building we’re given an ending that doesn’t live up to the remainder of the brilliance before it. It’s really hard to explain why I feel this way with out spoiling the film so perhaps a spoiler discussion is necessary.

Our Grade: A-, Chilling, and visceral this is definitely a film you need to see. So there’s my recommendation. One scene in particular stands out as a master work of cinematic brilliance. Emily Blunt is a freaking superstar, and don’t be surprised to see Benicio Del Toro nominated for an Oscar this year for Best Supporting Actor, he’s just THAT good here. There are several subplots that for me did not hold the weight they should in the grand scheme of the whole movie, but don’t detract enough to truly wreck the experience.