Strong Latin American crime film
LGwriter | Astoria, N.Y. United States | 05/27/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Another strong entry in the Latin American crime film sub-genre, Jose Ramon Novoa's Sicario, set in Bogota, is a riveting thriller which, though somewhat formulaic, makes the most of its emphasis on how poverty drives people to acts of desperation. As is true of several crime films set in Latin America (City of God, Johnny One Hundred Pesos, and others), Sicario centers on street youths who resort to crime to bring in the money they have so little of. Here, Jairo, 13 or 14, lives with his mother, younger brother, and an even younger sister. He quickly falls in with an older youth who eventually brings him to a contact linked to the guerillas (one suspects FARC, although it could be another group) who are heavy traffickers in cocaine, one of Colombia's premier cash crops, unfortunately.Eventually conscripted to the inner sanctum of a top drug lord, Jairo is assigned to assassinate a key political figure. This occurs after he's dispatched two or three lower level politicos and the drug lord is sure he can do the job. In the midst of his violent activity and occasional visits to whorehouses, he finds time to be with his girlfriend for whom, as is true of his mother, he gives most of his ill-gotten gains.Every act of violence seen in the film is critical to the plot, and the actors do an excellent job conveying the characters they portray. The director has some cinematic tricks up his sleeve but does not overuse them; the viewer senses Novoa is a smart filmmaker who knows his craft well.Colombia's film output is relatively low, but this is certainly one of the best films from that country.Recommended."
Sicario
Macuto | Florida | 09/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sicario is a Venezuelan film and not Colombian. Moreover, the entire film was done in diferent Venezuelan cities. Critic experts should do more research before posting reviews.
The movie is spectacular."