Sicario

MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, grisly images, and language
Run Time: 121 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today I saw Lionsgate's Sicario starring Emily Blunt (Into the Woods), Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy), Josh Brolin (Everest), and Victor Garber (CW's The Flash).  The film's director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) tells a captivating, gruesome, and intense story of FBI agent Kate Macer as she experiences first hand the evils of the drug war along the United States and Mexico border.  To help her with her mission to stop one of the biggest drug cartel leaders, she must rely on the help of hitman who has is own agenda in stopping the war.
I thought that this movie was great. It was intense and visually stunning.  The cinematography is absolutely amazing.  The way the audience is able to experience and see the film is spectacular. It definitely provides a whole new perspective which makes for a thrilling experience.  Another great aspect is the story.  From the very beginning, the story captures your attention and never lets up.  Along with that, you must be aware that due to the content of the film, if you can't handle some gruesome images, then this is definitely not the film for you. Director Denis Villeneuve does not shy away from telling the story exactly as if it were real life, which means that some things in the film may be hard to watch.  Though that may turn a few viewers away from watching, I appreciate someone that is not afraid to share exactly how it is and make their work as realistic as possible.
With that being said, the film still has its flaws.  For one thing, it moves along at a really slow pace. This two hour film seems like it is a lot longer than it should be and there are some aspects of the film that really could be taken out, especially since they add no real value to the final product.  Another thing that really bothered me was Emily Blunt's character.  The marketing campaign made it seem like Emily Blunt's character was a strong-willed female action hero, but unfortunately she just gets in the way most of the time.  It is a real shame because the film could have thrived on its strong female character, but by putting her in the background makes it seem like a waste.  Emily Blunt has proved that she can be an action hero in Edge of Tomorrow and this is a great disappointment on all counts.
Overall, the film was actually really great.  This is definitely not for everyone, but for those that can stomach some of the images, you will not be disappointed.  This is an intense thriller and one that will leave you thinking a long time after you have left the theater.

Thanks again for reading!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!