But some sequels have it worse than the rest
Case in point: when you are up against one of the best director-cinematographer duo in current times
And Sicario: Day of the Soldado just happens to be one from the unfortunate bunch
The original movie was a product of the combined artistry that the golden pair Denis Villeneuve and Roger Deakins managed to infuse into it
The sequel, on the other hand, is hoping to embark on its journey to cinematic success with neither as travel companions
https://www
youtube
com/watch?v=sIMChzE_aCo&t=1s&pbjreload=10 So did Sicario: Day of the Soldado manage to beat the unfavourable odds that were stacked against it? Let’s find out
One important individual who does happen to stick around from the prequel is our black operative, Alejandro Gillick (Benicio Del Toro), who is recruited by another recurring character, CIA agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin), following a deadly terrorist attack in Kansas City
His mandate is clear and ruthless: to use extreme measures to combat Mexican drug cartels who are suspected of having transported the extremists responsible for the bombing across the border
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Screenshot[/caption] The lead duo decide that the best way to deal with narcotics is to provoke a war between the major cartels
So Alejandro discreetly executes a high-profile lawyer of one Mexican syndicate, while Matt kidnaps the kingpin’s daughter (Isabela Moner), to make it seem retaliatory and let the great cartel war begin
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Screenshot[/caption] Now for our anti-hero, this whole situation isn’t just strictly business
We would do well to remember that Alejandro’s whole family was gunned down by the same drug lords, so he has some serious personal stakes in this unravelling of events
Long story short, the American government, the CIA, Mexican cartels, Mexican police and human traffickers all get involved in this quagmire of a situation, and our protagonist ends up running away from most of them, trying to protect the young kidnapee
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] The original was a complex tale of morally conflicted characters handled deftly by a master craftsman in Villeneuve
But the sequel is devoid of one of the most important pieces that helped made the prequel such a riveting drama
Emily Blunt’s character in Sicario was the moral compass that kept Brolin’s and Del Toro’s machismo and mindless appetite for chaos in check
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Screenshot[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Screenshot[/caption] The humanity bit in the sequel is provided by the little abducted girl whose relationship with Del Toro when out on the run is one of the main sub-plots of the film
The whole dynamic between the two reminds you a bit of Logan with shades of Leon: The Professional thrown in the mix for good measure
But regrettably, the rapport shared between Del Toro and Moner is nowhere as developed as it was in the aforementioned films
Another weakness of Sicario: Day of the Soldado is the script, with the third-act being a major let-down in terms of a satisfying realistic climax
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] In terms of performances, you can’t really find a fault with either of the lead actors
Both Brolin and Del Toro have a great presence on screen and make the best out of the written material they are provided with
You might find Del Toro’s act a little modest in terms of emotions as opposed to Brolin’s but he makes his appearance felt with the same intensity
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] The movie is a dream come true for a violence junkie, and the way the whole mayhem and gore parts are captured is where Sicario: Day of the Soldado scores the highest
It might be trash, but it’s an incredibly stylish trash
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Screenshot[/caption] I wouldn’t really recommend against watching Sicario 2, but what I’d definitely advise is that you forget about the original and any accompanying comparisons that would inevitably come tagged with it
| Date: | 13-Jul-2018 | Reference: | View Original Link |
|---|