Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Stefano Sollima, Roadshow Entertainment.
Cast: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Catherine Keener, Isabela Moner, Matthew Modine.
Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro (Traffic) and Josh Brolin (Milk) give intense performances after reprising their characters from Sicario.
The war on drugs has explosive scenarios and delving into the ruthless underworld shows there are not many rules.
The cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border and federal agent Matt Graver (Brolin) calls on the mysterious Alejandro (del Toro) to escalate the war in immoral ways. Alejandro’s family was murdered by a cartel kingpin, so to inflame the conflict, Alejandro kidnaps Isabela (Moner), the daughter of Carlos Reyes. Questions begin to get asked when the girl is seen as collateral damage. Her fate then takes centre stage between the two men after they begin to question the drivers behind what they are doing.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado may not have some of its original key players, but under Sollima’s direction there are some reminders of the 2015 original. Not to be seen are director Denis Villeneuve, Emily Blunt, Johann Johannsson and Roger Deakins.
We are taken on a cruel, often unsightly journey, into the turmoil of the US-Mexico border. To battle cartels across the border, the line is often crossed into gross exploitation for some people.
Graver’s investigation draws the interest of Secretary of Defense James Riley (Modine) and black ops associate Cynthia Foards (Keener).
Some solid performances result in strong action sequences. Blu-ray viewing includes worthy bonus behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Sicario comes from Mexican Mafia jargon for ‘hitman’ and ‘hired killer’.
