Sicario: Day of the Soldado
2/4
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Elijah Rodriguez, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine
Rated R for Strong Violence, Bloody Images, and Language
I wasn't the biggest fan of "Sicario," the 2015 thriller from Denis Villeneuve. Like all his films, it was more style than substance and had a self-importance that it didn't earn. But it certainly wasn't a terrible movie by any means and earned enough money to warrant a sequel. Here we are three years later witnessing the return of the tough as nails Matt Graver and his mysterious attack dog, Alejandro.
A series of terrorist attacks have shocked the US. Upon realizing that terrorists are using the drug cartels' human smugglers to enter the states, the president has redefined them as "terrorists." The secretary of defense (Modine) and his underling (Keener) want Graver to cause chaos at the borders by starting a war between the cartels. To do this, he unleashes Alejandro with no strings attached.
The problem with "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" is that the story is a mess and it's not very interesting. Matt Graver is just another one of Josh Brolin's trademark "get shit done and fuck the rules" characters. It's a type he plays so well, but it's getting old. Fortunately, unlike many movies, his actions and attitude aren't lionized. Graver screws up, and he has to pay the price. Benicio del Toro does some interesting things with Alejandro, giving us a man who both intimidating and sympathetic. del Toro's heavy eyes reveal Alejandro's deep wounds and the solace he finds in unexpected places. Isabella Moner manages not to be an irritating albatross in the limited role of the helpless victim. And Elijah Rodriguez manages to be the most sympathetic character as a young kid who gets lured into a life of crime.
If only the story was more interesting. It's as violent as it is cynical, but it also takes itself way too seriously. The film is a gritty crime drama, and that's fine. But there's nothing to back it up. There's really no one to care about in this movie, and that makes it a bit of a trial. The action scenes are brutal, but there's little suspense. Whatever flaws the previous installment had, there were definitely moments that crackled with tension.
Perhaps it's the widened scope of the film that's the problem. The sense of claustrophobia isn't here. Or maybe it's the lack of an innocent at the center. Kate Macer wasn't one of Emily Blunt's best performances but the character's lack of cynicism and bitterness made her easy to identify with.
Reviewing "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" is tough. The film doesn't contain enough content for much of a review. It is what it is, and it doesn't even do that well. I'm glad that Hollywood is making movies like "Beirut" and the "Sicario" movies for adults with a thinking brain. I just wish they were better.
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Elijah Rodriguez, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine
Rated R for Strong Violence, Bloody Images, and Language
I wasn't the biggest fan of "Sicario," the 2015 thriller from Denis Villeneuve. Like all his films, it was more style than substance and had a self-importance that it didn't earn. But it certainly wasn't a terrible movie by any means and earned enough money to warrant a sequel. Here we are three years later witnessing the return of the tough as nails Matt Graver and his mysterious attack dog, Alejandro.
A series of terrorist attacks have shocked the US. Upon realizing that terrorists are using the drug cartels' human smugglers to enter the states, the president has redefined them as "terrorists." The secretary of defense (Modine) and his underling (Keener) want Graver to cause chaos at the borders by starting a war between the cartels. To do this, he unleashes Alejandro with no strings attached.
The problem with "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" is that the story is a mess and it's not very interesting. Matt Graver is just another one of Josh Brolin's trademark "get shit done and fuck the rules" characters. It's a type he plays so well, but it's getting old. Fortunately, unlike many movies, his actions and attitude aren't lionized. Graver screws up, and he has to pay the price. Benicio del Toro does some interesting things with Alejandro, giving us a man who both intimidating and sympathetic. del Toro's heavy eyes reveal Alejandro's deep wounds and the solace he finds in unexpected places. Isabella Moner manages not to be an irritating albatross in the limited role of the helpless victim. And Elijah Rodriguez manages to be the most sympathetic character as a young kid who gets lured into a life of crime.
If only the story was more interesting. It's as violent as it is cynical, but it also takes itself way too seriously. The film is a gritty crime drama, and that's fine. But there's nothing to back it up. There's really no one to care about in this movie, and that makes it a bit of a trial. The action scenes are brutal, but there's little suspense. Whatever flaws the previous installment had, there were definitely moments that crackled with tension.
Perhaps it's the widened scope of the film that's the problem. The sense of claustrophobia isn't here. Or maybe it's the lack of an innocent at the center. Kate Macer wasn't one of Emily Blunt's best performances but the character's lack of cynicism and bitterness made her easy to identify with.
Reviewing "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" is tough. The film doesn't contain enough content for much of a review. It is what it is, and it doesn't even do that well. I'm glad that Hollywood is making movies like "Beirut" and the "Sicario" movies for adults with a thinking brain. I just wish they were better.
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