Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Starring Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan

Directed by Stefano Sollima

The Story:
After two terrorist bombings occur on American soil, CIA Special Activities Division officer Matt Graves (Josh Brolin) discovers that they came from Mexico, and is enlisted to create havoc by pitting rival Mexican druglords against each other.  To accomplish this, he enlists Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro) to do the dirty work, and mostly because one of the cartel leaders is the same man responsible for Gillick's family's death.

The two men plan to kidnap Isabela (Isabela Moner), the daughter of the drug cartel leader, and in doing so will incite a war between the cartels.  As the violence escalates, Isabela sees more than she's supposed to, resulting in the government's plan to take her out - but Gillick is unwilling to do so, pitting him against his old friend for the life of the girl and the safety of America.

The Synopsis:
The first "Sicario" film was a masterclass of cinema, filled with tension, drama, action, excitement, and mind-boggling scenes - especially that opening one.  It was a film that really didn't need a sequel, even though writer Taylor Sheridan envisioned it as a trilogy, but with "Day of the Soldado," we get to see some of the original actors return to go at it again, resulting in a film that - while not as masterclass as the original - still retains some of the original's pizazz and moxie.

Even though the film is without director Denis Villeneuve (he was busy directing "Blade Runner 2049"), famed cinematographer Roger Deakins (also busy with "Blade Runner 2049"), composer Johann Johannsson (who unfortunately passed away in February), and star Emily Blunt (as the writer wished to tell a story with no one as its moral compass), the film still manages to hold most of the first's heart in a way that's entertaining and grotesque in equal measure, but it seems that director Stefano Sollima really wanted to be like Villeneuve - there's several scenes that make the film appear to almost be a carbon copy of the original.  From the shocking opening sequence (which was absolutely heart-wrenching), to the shootout on a road, the overhead shots of helicopters flying, to the side story that at first seems disconnected but ultimately leads to a shocking conclusion, and that drowning musical score, the average film viewer would be remiss to think that all the same people behind the scenes have returned.  Also much like the first film, this side story collides with the main story in shocking ways, leading to a thrilling conclusion.  However, to a trained viewer, you can tell everything is just a copy of a greater work - but is still rather great in its own right.

Returning to the big screen are duo Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin (who have now appeared in five films together), and their on-screen chemistry is as strong as ever.  Brolin (who's having the summer of his career - after appearing in "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Deadpool 2") shines as Matt Graver, a militant officer who commands the screen as simply as chewing gum, who demands our attention and gives his general gravitas performance.  Yet it's del Toro's film (as it was previously) at its base, and once again he gives an eerie, powerful performance as the "sicario" (Spanish for hitman) Alejandro Gillick.  The first film gave him a sense of the unknown, while here we get to see a deeper, more fatherly, side of him.  After learning they plan to kill the child, he sets out to protect her at any cost - even going against his old friend in the process.

That young girl is rising star Isabela Moner, who also appeared in last summer's doleful wreck "Transformers: The Last Knight."  Here, she showcases an acting prowess way above her years, and personally I can see her becoming the next Michelle Rodriguez, as a total action star.  Her opening scene involves her getting into a fist fight with a fellow student, and she only keeps her strength from there on, while also showing shocking moments of vulnerability.  Even though this is del Toro's vehicle, Moner is clearly behind the wheel.

As it is with copies, there's something special missing that the original had, and "Day of the Soldado" is no different.  While the film is intense, gory, and unsettling, there's a small fiber missing from the fabric that becomes somewhat apparent, but unlike other copies of originals, it doesn't detract entirely from the story being told.  It's still as exciting as ever, the acting as tight as ever, and the visuals as stunning as ever.

The Summary:
Despite not needing a sequel, "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" holds its own in the departments of acting, directing, and cinematography - even if it feels like a copy of the original.  With the talent of Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin leading the charge, this serves as a powerful, thoughtful sequel that we didn't realize we needed until now.

The Score: A