Wednesday, December 20, 2017

'Sicario 2: Soldado' Trailer Starts A War With Everyone



Do we really need a sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2015 cartel thriller Sicario? Especially one without the lead character or director from that film? Probably not. But that’s not going to stop Sicario 2: Soldado from happening, and thanks to this first trailer, I’m here for it’s DTV vibe and promise of excessive violence.



While Soldado doesn’t return Emily Blunt’s Kate Mercer or helmer Denis Villeneuve, but it does bring back three key pieces. The action primarily concerns Benicio Del Toro’s shadowy Alejandro and Josh Brolin’s off-reservation government agent Matt Graver. And, perhaps most importantly, Taylor Sheridan (Wind River) returns to pen the sequel, so we’re definitely in line for more of his trademark grim, violent, nasty, almost unbearable tension. And again, I’ll take that all day.

The plot reportedly revolves around Alejandro and Graver operating with little (read: no) oversight to do something amidst an escalating drug war, one that now includes cartels trafficking terrorists across the border. I’m sure someone thinks they’re doing something to end the conflict, but as Brolin says, they’re basically starting a war with everyone.

Without Villeneuve and Blunt, the questionable morality of Sicario carried by Alejandro and Graver is sure to be let loose, and it’s going to be interesting to see how that goes. Without those two elements to center the narrative and give the film a heart, it’s easy to envision Soldada doubling down on the cynical, vicious, sadistic stance. I picture a grim, gritty time.

Taking over the big chair in Soldado is Stefano Sollima. Surprise, surprise, the Italian director’s resume is littered with down-and-dirty action dramas like A.C.A.B. and Suburra. Again, with this DTV feel that’s on full display in this trailer, he feels like a perfect fit.


Sicario 2: Soldado opens in theaters next summer on June 28, 2018.

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