SICARIO Leaves You Feeling Uneasy Throughout Its Run Time And Beyond.

SICARIO

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Daniel Kaluuya, Victor Garber, and Jon Bernthal.

Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language. 

The border is just another line to cross. It's been nearly two months since my last review, mostly because August and September were horrible months for movies with maybe the exception of Straight Outta Compton, which I failed to see. Regardless, October is here and now the fall movie season officially begins with a combination of Oscar hopefuls and holiday season blockbusters. Director Denis Villeneuve has impressed me with Prisoners and Enemy in the past few years, and he delivers again with this unnerving thriller centered on the fight against Mexican drug cartels. 

When FBI Agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) volunteers to join a special unit tasked with disrupting Mexican drug cartel activity, she begins to question the unlawful and morally questionable methods used by the team's leaders, Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro). Kate must discover how determined she is to find these dangerous criminals and bring them to justice in the midst of a world she does not understand.

Sicario is a masterful thriller filled uneasy tension in every frame. Villeneuve expertly sets up each scene with an unsettling nerve that builds and builds. Emily Blunt proves that she's one of the best young actresses working today, and she gives arguably the best performance from a female yet this year. Brolin is also solid in his role, but he all but disappears from the screen as the film nears its end. Del Toro brings his A-game as Alejandro, a man whose allegiance and motives are questioned throughout the film. He's extremely effective and absolutely terrifying as we discover more about him. 

It's hard to say if Sicario will be remembered by Oscar voters when the time comes, but it really should be. Sicario is one of the best films of the year, and Villeneuve has inserted himself as one of the most talented directors working today. However, be warned: this movie is not for the faint of heart and is quite bleak. You'll feel disturbed long after you leave the theater. Nevertheless, a movie this effective deserves to be praised.

RATING: A