Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Sicario: Day of the Soldado, directed by Stefano Sollima and released in 2018, is a grimy, suspense-driven follow-up to the critically lauded 2015 movie "Sicario." With an intense screenplay penned by Taylor Sheridan, the film is deftly anchored by the commanding performances of Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, alongside the burgeoning talent of Isabela Merced.

The film leads viewers deep into the treacherous underbelly of the U.S-Mexico border conflict – a world festering with cartels, violence, and political machinations. No stranger to this world is the film's enigmatic and dangerous protagonist, Alejandro Gillick, markedly portrayed by Benicio Del Toro in his brooding reticence. Josh Brolin fittingly resumes his role as the hard-nosed CIA operative Matt Graver - both men reprising roles from the first Sicario film.

As the narrative unfolds, the United States government takes up a position that the drug cartels in Mexico have become a significant national security risk. Thus, in an effort to quell the rising tide of cross-border narcotics trade and escalating violence, they sanction Brolin's character, Matt Graver, to engage in covert operations that would incite a war between rival cartels. This drastic approach is intended to destabilize their power structure with the hope that they will self-destruct.

Alejandro Gillick, (Del Toro), who is a mercenary lawyer with a vengeful past, is once again enlisted by Graver. His expertise and familiarity with the brutal landscape of the drug war make him a valuable operative in their cloak-and-dagger plans. The pair have a tenuous alliance based on mutual respect, professional efficacy, and a shared mission of combating the cartels – however, their individual motivations often blur the lines of morality, making the plot complex and thought-provoking.

Isabela Merced gives a riveting performance as Isabel Reyes, the young daughter of an influential drug lord who becomes a key pawn in their plans. Merced captures the complexity of her character, showing a mixture of vulnerability and defiance that effectively pulls at the audience's emotions and elevates the level of tension and intrigue in the plot.

One of Sicario: Day of the Soldado’s most striking aspects lies in its presentation of the grim reality of the narcotics trade. It does not flinch from showcasing the gritty world of cartels, and the brutal and inhumane tactics that they employ. It provides a riveting and grim commentary on the war on drugs and presents a chilling snapshot of the cartel's horrific brutality and underhanded political machinations.

Stefano Sollima does an admirable job on his first Hollywood feature, following up on Denis Villeneuve's act from the first Sicario movie. He makes excellent use of silence and suspense in equal measure, employing a minimalist style that boosts the film’s intense, bleak atmosphere. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski brilliantly captures the bleak, oppressive heat of the Mexican desert, reinforcing the grim tone and undercurrent of dread that permeates the film.

The movie also boasts an ominous and intense soundscape, which is a credit to composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. The eerie score haunts the movie from the start to finish, keeping viewers on the edge of their seat. The tension is palpable throughout, as the soundtrack enhances the escalating suspense and the impending sense of doom.

In conclusion, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, while a sequel, stands firm on its own foundation. It continues the narrative from the first film but does not shy away from framing its own path of storytelling. From its intense performances, gripping script, to its raw representation of the drug trade conflict, and stellar technical work, the film serves as an intense exploration of the depths of human morality and the dark complexities of a world plagued by violence and corruption. It leaves the viewers with thought-provoking questions and a harsh reflection of the times we live in.