The 2015 cartel thriller Sicario, starring Emily Blunt, is now available on BBC iPlayer, and viewers are calling it "the definition of a masterpiece." The film, which holds a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating, follows FBI agent Kate Macer as she is enlisted into a shadowy operation to take down a Mexican drug cartel boss.
Plot and Cast
Blunt portrays Kate Macer, an FBI agent who lands a prestigious assignment. She is recruited by a mysterious government official, played by Josh Brolin, to join a covert mission. The film's synopsis states: "Operating outside legal boundaries with a CIA handler and a mysterious fixer, she discovers the mission's true purpose goes far beyond what she was told."
Benicio del Toro plays Alejandro Gillick, a former Mexican prosecutor turned hired killer, who leads the team's pursuit of one drug lord to expose an even more powerful one. Daniel Kaluuya also stars as a rookie FBI agent and Kate's partner, alongside Victor Garber and Jon Bernthal.
Critical and Viewer Reception
Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes noted: "Led by outstanding work from Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, Sicario is a taut, tightly wound thriller with much more on its mind than attention-getting set pieces." The film was directed by Denis Villeneuve, known for Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the Dune trilogy, and earned three Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, Original Score, and Sound Editing.
Viewers have been equally enthusiastic. One Letterboxd reviewer wrote: "pretty much just held my breath for two hours straight what a RIDE." Another commented: "Never has a film kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning, but Sicario grabbed my throat and sparingly let me come up for air."
On IMDb, one viewer described the film as "one of those select few thrillers that will have your eyes stuck to the screen from the opening credits to the very end." Another Rotten Tomatoes user remarked: "This movie is the definition of a masterpiece. Brilliant casting, epic cinematography and direction, insightful and intelligent story, and incredible action."
Where to Watch
The first two films of the Sicario trilogy are available on BBC iPlayer. The sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), stars del Toro, while the third film, Sicario: Capos, is currently in development.
