Sicario (9/18/2015)

Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language.

Starting Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Bernthal, Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Donovan

Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners)

In Mexico, Sicario means hitman… seems like it could also mean brutally violent.

When drug violence worsens on the USA Mexico border, the FBI sends an idealistic agent, Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) on a mission to eradicate a drug cartel responsible for a bomb that had killed members of her team.

Sicario is a gritty action film that shows the ugly war between the FBI and the Mexican cartels. But is it worth watching? Well that depends on your taste. If your favorite films include titles like Frozen and The Notebook then no, please don’t go see this. On the other hand, if you like action-packed thrillers, Sicario is definitely worth going to see.

So here are a few things I liked about it. The cast is phenomenal. Not only do they each deliver strong performances but their chemistry is even stronger. Ever since The Usual Suspects, I’ve been a big fan of Benicio Del Toro. He doesn’t say much in this film but what he does say is very memorable. Josh Brolin is perfect as the wisecracking rouge agent. And Jeffrey Donovan does’nt have the biggest role but he’s still fun to watch.

Denis Villeneuve made a real impression with his film Prisoners in 2013. Like Prisoners, Sicario is difficult to watch at times and other times you can’t take your eyes off the screen. But it’s not just graphic violence, there is a powerful story being told.

But that violence is unrelenting and really disturbing. So if you liked films like Traffic, Sabotage and R-rated films like those that tell a story about the ugliest side of our world, then Sicario is for you. There were parts of this film I did like, but others that I did not…for that reason I am saying it’s a “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No. The violence is graphic and disturbing, plus there are over 50 F-words.

CONVERSATION STARTERS:

1. How would you describe Kate?


2. Why is she so conflicted by the way Matt does his job?


3. Do you think it is ever ok to bend the rules…even if you are doing a good thing?

Read Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


4. What does this verse tell us about the ends justifying the means?


5. How can you work, play and go to school in the name of the Lord Jesus?