Director:Â Stefano Sollima
Cast:Â Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Catherine Keener, Christopher Heyerdahl, Matthew Modine, Isabela Moner
Rating: 15
Running time: 122 mins
Release date:Â 29/6/18
Given Emily Blunt‘s ever rising star on the back end of her recent success in A QUIET PLACE and her upcoming blockbuster MARY POPPINS RETURNS, it will probably make it all the more harder for the producers of the SICARIO films to get her back for a potential third film, given recent reports in the media. Couple that with the rumour that she could be the first ever female James Bond after Daniel Craig retires and her place at the top of her game alongside the likes of Amy Adams and Emma Stone is assured.
Unfortunately, her absence is felt in the sequel to the 2015 original, which also enhanced Denis Villeneuve‘s reputation as a striking talent when it comes to action thrillers. However, both Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin revive their roles as Alejandro and Matt Graver.
In SICARIO 2: SOLDADO, the plot focuses on the smuggling of terrorists across the US-Mexican Border, an action that leads to the shocking bombing of a Kansas City supermarket. The CIA assigns Graver to stage a war between cartels to flesh the undesirables out and in the process kidnap the daughter of a known drug lord. However, things are never straightforward, with subplot and subtleties providing much conflict for both sides of the coin….
Taylor Sheridan returns as Scriptwriter on this and he does show as much prowess on this film when it comes to the action sequences and shoot-outs, which are as suspenseful and riveting as the first film. For most of the film, which does resemble a Tom Clancy thriller like PATRIOT GAMES, it does keep the attention and you will be as hooked on it as the first.
Unfortunately, a rather implausible moment during the latter third of the film dampens the atmosphere of a film that up until then has tried to match the first film’s style and presence.
If there is to be a third film, then hopefully Blunt’s schedule will allow her to dovetail her commitments and salvage more of what could have been a classic sequel. For its evident flaws, SICARIO 2: SOLDADO does get as far as it does thanks to the sterling performances of Brolin and Del Toro.
