Hell Or High Border.
121 Mins. Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabella Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Shea Whigham, Matthew Modine & Catherine Keener. Director: Stefano Sollima.
Gauntlet gripping. Thanos' collection is on full display here. And a galaxy guardian heading to a war for infinity with avengance can feel 'Goonie' Josh Brolin with his boot in 'Usual Suspect' Benicio Del Toro's chest. But in this reality we are in the middle of "Knowhere", as a giant purple Brolin is asking a white haired, Ziggy Stardust like Benicio, complete with eye shadow about some stone. Because in this said scenario Del Toro is Marvel's Collector. Whilst Josh is the Mad Titan, that is the ultimate Marvel big, bad boss in this contest of champions, Thanos. That's when the M.C.U. villain isn't moonlighting as anti-hero Cable for hire in 'Deadpool 2'. Yep...it's been one hell of a blockbuster month for 'Jonah Hex'. Let alone scorching, Summer season. Or the 2018 he owns with a couple of cut checks signed, 'Mr. Marvel'. But in 'Sicario-Day Of Soldado' it's Del Toro's time. His world across the border. Even if Brolin can order a humanity crippling, 'Eye In The Sky' devastating air strike with that signature click of his fingers, as he trades in his flip-flops for some comfortable Crocs as he interrogates with an intimidation more suffocating than waterboarding. Last time his all-American Bravo, granite jaw was growling about dramatically overreacting. But this time as oil slick as his 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' crooked character there is no rules as he gets as dirty as Gekko lizard, Douglas dollar money. It's war on everyone. And his big three, month, season and year is all the better for it, even if 'Sicario's' big-three is as M.I.A. right now as kings in Cavalier land. But on this side of the jurisdiction who else do you need to know but Benicio? Apart from that he gives the worst wet willies in the world. The hitman whose his own bodyguard, capable of silencing even a family dinner for the head of the cartel table. Right after being a backseat rifle driver on a border patrol tenser than those coming off some red eyes. And this time he's no passenger as he rides shotgun again on some terrific and terrifying traffic jam ups. And this Academy Award worthy 'Che' is revolutionary in part two as a now, instantly iconic, hardened hitman for C.I.A. hire with more humanity and heart than those who take the safety off from behind the desk comfort. One scene communicated in an entirely different language is particularly and profoundly moving. A devil with sympathy. Pure presence in symphony. A beguiling Benicio is 'Sicario', from the first "look at me" trigger finger, rapid fire execution, to the final door shutting, "adios"!
Blunt force trauma drove the first film home like a knee to the neck. But even with the dull ache of some of yesterdays big names not making it to the 'Day Of Soldado', this is still 'Sicario'. Dripping with dread from every shred of nerve frame. The expanse of this border is as compellingly claustrophobic as 'Alien'. With the iconic, drone descending, sinister score on a 'Jaws' horror scale. Even if this years 'The Quiet Place' standout star Emily Blunt doesn't get to take her service weapon out and make noise this go round. Blunt was so good showered in blood, but clean despite being cloaked in corruption in 'Sicario'. Yet the 'Edge Of Tomorrow' heroine doesn't get to 'Live.Die.Repeat' here. We can only hope that if this Mexican Godfather does make it to trilogy territory that she gets her own deserved conclusion, like the gratifying end to this satisfyingly stellar sequel. Even her perfect partner 'Black Panther' rising star Daniel Kaluuya was told to get out this time. The first film had so much firepower under the trunk of this road crossing to another world. Even a punishing cameo from Frank Castle himself, Jon Bernthal like all good Sheridan script scribes (see the most heartfelt to harrowing scene on the wild 'Wind River', Taylor made and directed by Sheridan). But they are all milk cartons here like the departure of 'Arrival' director Denis Villeneuve. Who fuelled this original classic and then passed on a sequel to make a long awaited '2049' follow-up to some science-fiction film called 'Blade Runner'. At least its still wrote up with classic conviction by the aforementioned Sheridan (the modern standard for neo western folklore). Who after penning the best two pictures of 2015 and 2016 (with the original 'Sicario' and the neo-western hick heist of 'Hell Or High Water'), gave us one of last years greatest with his directorial debut (the Winter wave of 'Wind River') and attempts to give us a calender contender here with his dynamite dialogue and simmering to a boil storytelling tension. Forget setting a scene this modern day Cormac McCarthy needs to write a novel as everyone goes by his book.
Turn the page however and you'll see a new day from director Stefano Sollima and it's a bright one amongst all the darkness, illuminated by the helicopters searchlight that patrol the plains at nighfall. The slick 'Subbura' (the Italian film that featured a Benicio lookalike) director keeps 'Soldado' solid and soldiering on in the eye of the day of the dead. But there's even more front cover, big names that make footnotes in this chapter. The Buddy Holly shooting spectacle of 'Changeling' and 'J. Edgar' supporting star Jeffrey Donovan is back to backpack, back-up and partner-up when duty calls for it. And even go-to character actor Shea Whigham (is there a film he isn't) comes for a business meeting dinner over whiskey and 'copter chasers in a critical scene. While greats like 'Capote' and 'Being John Malkovich' twice nominated Best Supporting Actress Catherine Keener and 'Full Metal Jacket' and 'Stranger Things'' Matthew Modine as the Secretary of State make a real veteran impression here. Inked like matching fingerprints that point to corruption at the highest level. Still from the dust dusk to a carpeted, rug pulling dawn, 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Murder On The Orient Express' rider Manuel Garcia-Rulfo's star studded future glows and gleams in the corners and the crevices of his shadowy character. But for all the grown up, big names here adding to the force of this formidable filmography, it's 17 year old 'Transformers: Last Knight' actress Isabella Moner who has the most influence. Threatening to steal the show from Toro any chance she gets to make us forget about Blunt. Not only is she the crux and the catalyst for everything that thickens in this plot. She's also the critical crutch that keeps this film walking towards its crossing destination whenever the pace hobbles on one foot. Struggling to make it to the other side like a flat tyre. With a different dynamic, all in all she makes this new ensemble just as epic as the old. And this modern masterpieces second coming irrigates the immigration debate and takes apart Trump's wall brick by brick to shows us what lies behind the side of the border they should ignore no more. In 'Soldado', 'Sicario' hasn't had it's day. It's targeting a trilogy. And you best believe it will make it's mark before it meets its maker. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Sicario', 'Traffic', 'Narcos'.
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