MovieChat Forums > Sicario (2015) Discussion > What exactly was this movie missing?

What exactly was this movie missing?

posted 9 years ago by A_Dance_with_Charles
11 replies | jump to latest

So I just got done watching it for the first time. I enjoyed it pretty well, but I feel like it wasn't quite as good as it could have been. I just can't put my finger on why, exactly. The cinematography/directing was fantastic, the cast was good and their performances ranged anywhere from acceptable to great, the pacing, the writing, the plot, it was all good, but there's just something... missing.

Anyone else feel this way? If so, any ideas as to what it was missing?

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PLEASE USE NEST VIEW IT MAKES EVERYONE'S LIVES EASIER GOD DAMMIT

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tstevens32 9 years ago

I agree, it could have been great, I gave it an 8. I think the story could have been fleshed out more with better script writing.

[–] matdemon 8 years ago

The story is actually there, it's just subtly covered in loose dialogue throughout the movie. It never sits you down and tells you point blank what it is, you just sort of catch bits and pieces as Brolin and his team talk.

I picked up a lot more the second viewing, where I'd replay some bits.

I actually think it was a good move since it makes you, the audience, sort of in the same seat as Emily Blunt's character; confused, not fully informed, and just picking things up as she goes. The only advantage the audience has is that they are a bit more intelligent compared to Blunt's rather simple-minded character.

[–] quumpher 8 years ago

Tits.

[–] gfarrell80 8 years ago

Tits.

Yup.

I agree, I enjoyed the movie a bit but think it was missing something. I think that thing was missing was a satisfactory ending? It was enjoyable seeing Alejandro get his revenge, but it felt somewhat hollow. Also the gun being held under Emily Blunt's chin by Alejandro was a little weird and artificial feeling.

The closest thing I could compare it to is the Brazilian 'Elite Squad' (2007). Similar movie about crime and police tactics. The characters in that one though felt more realistic and the ending - similarly brutal - had more of a character arc involved.

Also the whole movie felt vaguely implausible and conspiratorial. I don't believe the CIA really cares about helping poor Mexicans by fighting the war on drugs on foreign soil in a covert manner.

Overall though the film could have been much worse, and had some decent art and characterization to it.

[–] martytamu27 8 years ago

IDK, I feel it was one of the best movies in the last 5 years. It literally had everything. Great script, great directing, great actors perfectly cast, absolutely amazing and perfect-for-this-film score, a complete gut punch of an ending, brutally realistic. to me anyway I cant find a fault.

Yes Emily and her partner were annoying, but integral to the story was their annoyance.

[–] strhe 8 years ago

Jake Gyllenhaal

[–] edinabb 8 years ago

For me, the tech stuff was so great, to distract from the team lacks a special dynamic as a group (Kathryn Bigelow.)

Or the tension isn't tight enough, between a group staying together and its members jostling for power (like Mann's greek drama inside action thriller.)

Actors are great individually. I chalk it up to lack of rehearsal. Or they didn't bond enough with director.

[–] PeterMarkoff 8 years ago

it's just dragging between major scenes, can't be compared to masterpiece like Heat or heck if someone wanna blame me I am done pure action movie freak even Prisoners didn't drag like this

remove amazing score and i would give it 5-6 max, have it 7 mostly because of score

[–] Malamute26 8 years ago

the movie was great on many levels, my opinion is the viewer gets all this tension and huge build up, i dont think the ending serves justice to the great climax of the movie. you had layers of people involved and how they are affected and the ending pretty much focuses on the revenge for one man, it throws off the whole tension of the movie. Then they just pan to soccer playing, to act like its just another domino in the drug war.

[–] MrBullo 8 years ago

The movie's other defect IMO, and it applies to many American movies, is the dialogue is hard to understand. The mumbling, the change of volume etc makes it easy to miss what people are saying. Bring on the subtitles!