The original Sicario from 2015 immediately established itself as a kind of modern classic in the action and crime thriller genres.As for this sequel, it proves to be a more than worthy followup. Fans of the original will be satisfied even if it plays things a little too bleak and downbeat for conventional moviegoers.
Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro are back once again playing an FBI agent and a Hispanic hitman trying to rid the U.S.-Mexico border of terrorism and drug cartels. After a bombing in a grocery store, both men are assigned to combat the threats springing from Mexico when they find out that the cartels are supposedly transporting radical terrorists in the country. Their mission is a series of brutal interrogations and violent shootouts with some actual time out for intelligent dialogue that serves as a kind of parallel to what’s going on in our world today.
Another plot thread involves the kidnapping of a kingpin’s daughter in order to create an elaborate deception and start a war within the terrorist organizations. It would only make sense that in order to take out your enemy, have your enemy do it for you.
There are some very suspenseful scenes in the movie. One of which involves Del Toro’s character attempting to get the kingpin’s daughter across the border to the U.S. even though they know some terrorists stand in their way when they get on the bus that will take them. Del Toro tells the daughter to say only one word in order to make their story believable so they can cross. It just might work.
Del Toro and Brolin give outstanding work again in this gritty, intense, and violent sequel that proves to be equal parts sound and fury, a riveting character study, and a timely meditation on the war on terror.
Both Sicario films delve deep and explore the notions of crime entering the U.S. without becoming preachy, pretentious, or downright insulting to the audience. Denis Villeneuve, who made the first film, stepped down from this sequel and passes it on to Stefano Sollima who stays true to its dark, morally ambiguous tone. Taylor Sheridan who penned the first film is back and his script is filled with some standout dialogue and themes.
Day of the Soldado might not live up to the depth and intrigue of the first film for some audiences, but it left me very interested in looking forward to the day we get Sicario 3.
Grade: B+
(Rated R for strong violence, bloody images, and language.)
