Sicario 2: Soldado * * *
Before seeing the latest Sicario I thought I'd better refresh my memory and have another look at the first Sicario. On second viewing I felt I was wrong about one thing - Emily Blunt wasn't too badly cast. She did a better job than what I first thought. But I still think the plot was a bit untidy and silly from time to time.
I think the plot in the new one is a bit iffy too. This time, rather than dealing with cartels smuggling drugs across the border, they are dealing with people smugglers. The film stays fairly apolitical and does not seem to have great sympathy with, or condemnation of, illegal immigrants; which is interesting given the current political climate in USA.
Like the last Sicario the special ops are sent down to Mexico to cause mayhem so the Cartels will destroy each other. "When the wolves eat the wolves why should the shepherd care?" To do this they kidnap the teenage daughter of one of the Cartel chiefs whilst giving the impression that it is a competing Cartel who have kidnapped her.
Josh Brolin returns as Matt, an operative who is quite at home killing or torturing to get the job done, though his ruthlessness pales compared to Alejandro played by Benecio Del Toro. He'll kill at the drop of a hat, though he seems to have softened when it comes to killing kids. He becomes quite protective of the kidnapped girl even though she is a rather sassy teenager. There is also a subplot involving a naive young man who gets recruited by one of the Cartels. He also serves as the setup for Sicario 3 which will be with us in a couple of years, I'll be bound.
Personally I hope they don't: Sicario is okay but it just isn't realistic or intelligent enough to leave you thinking; at the same time it won't let itself be happily dumb and gung-ho.
If you really want to see good convincing drama on the Cartels try the Netflix Narcos series.
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| Your friendly kidnapper. |
Like the last Sicario the special ops are sent down to Mexico to cause mayhem so the Cartels will destroy each other. "When the wolves eat the wolves why should the shepherd care?" To do this they kidnap the teenage daughter of one of the Cartel chiefs whilst giving the impression that it is a competing Cartel who have kidnapped her.
Josh Brolin returns as Matt, an operative who is quite at home killing or torturing to get the job done, though his ruthlessness pales compared to Alejandro played by Benecio Del Toro. He'll kill at the drop of a hat, though he seems to have softened when it comes to killing kids. He becomes quite protective of the kidnapped girl even though she is a rather sassy teenager. There is also a subplot involving a naive young man who gets recruited by one of the Cartels. He also serves as the setup for Sicario 3 which will be with us in a couple of years, I'll be bound.
Personally I hope they don't: Sicario is okay but it just isn't realistic or intelligent enough to leave you thinking; at the same time it won't let itself be happily dumb and gung-ho.
If you really want to see good convincing drama on the Cartels try the Netflix Narcos series.
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