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In 2015, director Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario took audiences deep inside a shadowy war that continues to rage on. And in the sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro team up with director Stefano Sollima to plan out the next battle.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado returns to the US/Mexico border, where the cartels have started trafficking terrorists into the States. To fight against the growing problem, federal agent Matt Graver (Brolin) plans to start a war between the cartels by kidnapping Isabel Reyes (Isabela Moner), the feisty teenage daughter of kingpin Carlos Reyes. He brings in enigmatic asset Alejandro (Del Toro) to help with the mission, knowing that it will give him a chance to avenge his family’s deaths. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Graver and Alejandro are both forced to make some difficult decisions.
The original Sicario was a dark and gritty award season release, blending action with politics for a smart and timely crime thriller. While the follow-up has been moved to a summer release date, though, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the drama has been sacrificed to make it fit in with the big-budget summer blockbusters that flood theaters this time of year. In fact, it’s a strange pick for a summer release—because while there’s still plenty of gunfire, it’s more about the plans and politics behind the explosive battles.
Like the original, Sicario: Day of the Soldado is heavy and complicated, full of secret assignments, mysterious characters, and blurred lines. The missions are quiet and highly classified, and they’re likely to change at any time to meet the needs of those in command. It’s a lot to take in—and while it makes for some intriguing drama, it doesn’t always make for a gripping film.
With so many shadowy figures taking part in shadowy missions to fight against an enemy that’s never actually seen, it’s not easy to connect to the characters. Yet, despite all of the dark deals made in secret meetings, despite the collateral damage, the leads aren’t as cold and callous as they may seem—and they offer just the slightest glimmer of humanity to make viewers care about how the story works out in the end.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado mixes a little bit summer action with the politics and drama of award season. Neither aspect feels fully developed here, and the story offers little resolution. But if you prefer action movies that make you think, this thought-provoking crime thriller is a welcome change from the summer’s more brainless blockbusters.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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