Sicario

Sicario follows FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt), who becomes embroiled in the war against drugs at the US/Mexico border as she joins a task force run by the cocky Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro)...

What sets the film apart is the focus on character—this isn't a simple mindless action film, but a piece of work which is interested in fleshing out its characters and their individual motivations. Visually, Sicario is stunning; the landscape of Mexico is shot in a manner which provides the film with a sense of truly epic scale.

Blunt takes a character who could have come across as problematically one dimensional and naive, and produces some of her best work to date, creating in Kate an engaging and complex protagonist who eschews the stereotypical cliché of 'ruthless FBI ice queen' which similar thrillers have often allowed female characters to fall victim to. Del Toro's work here is also admirable as he treads the fine line between charm and menace continually—you leave the film without ever really feeling as though you've got a hold on his character, but it's clear that this is intentional

This is a taut, tense thriller which not only keeps you on the edge of your seat but provides you with engaging characters who don't feel like cardboard cut-outs. What's not to like?

Callum McManus