Denis Villeneuve's latest thriller, about an elite government task force assigned to tackle the escalating problem of Mexico's drug cartels, is ruthlessly efficient - a real thrill ride, though one that exhibits a necessarily pessimistic philosophy. Emily Blunt plays Kate Macer, a tough and idealistic FBI agent who, in the opening minutes of the film, we follow on a drug raid gone explosively wrong. While they fail to catch their man, the higher-ups are nevertheless impressed by Kate's initiative, and she's recruited by Matt (Josh Brolin) to serve on his team down by the Mexican Border. Matt is clearly a dodgy character, if his taste in footwear is anything to go by, but Kate goes along with his promise that they can make a real difference in the "drug war" - which shows no signs of slowing down.
She's also introduced to the enigmatic Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), who doesn't talk much. In fact, not many people talk to her. They treat her as if she's not there. But it's not until she goes on a ride-along that turns into brutal bloodshed that she really begins to doubt the purpose of her mission and, along with her partner Reggie (Daniel Kaluuya), she begins to look for answers. She might not like what she finds.
She's also introduced to the enigmatic Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), who doesn't talk much. In fact, not many people talk to her. They treat her as if she's not there. But it's not until she goes on a ride-along that turns into brutal bloodshed that she really begins to doubt the purpose of her mission and, along with her partner Reggie (Daniel Kaluuya), she begins to look for answers. She might not like what she finds.
Emily Blunt really is superb in this role. She has grit and machismo, but is a clearly defined female character in a world of men, the kind of role that we don't see enough of in films like this. She's a bit like a more hardcore version of Maya from Zero Dark Thirty. (Oddly enough, there's a strikingly similar night-time raid sequence here.) Benicio Del Toro is also terrific - his implacability is one of his greatest traits as an actor, as he can easily swing between playing a good guy, a bad guy or, most frequently, something in between. He's clearly in familiar territory here, having played characters on both sides of the drug conflict (Traffic and Escobar: Paradise Lost to name two), but he still gives a great performance as Alejandro - the tense interplay between him and Kate is one of the film's strongest elements.
Yet the real star of the film is Villeneuve, whose perfectly tense pitch of action never falters. The aforementioned sequence, where Kate rides along with an armed patrol responsible for delivering a hostage - all the while watchful of an ambush by the cartels - is particularly brilliant, and will have you chewing your fingers off from the moment a helicopter reverberates through your lungs. But everything that comes before and after it is equally important, perfectly paced, and without unnecessary auteurist meddling that can bog down such thrillers of its type. (It's gorgeously shot, too, by the great Roger Deakins.) Part of what works is its simplicity - there are no sub-plots, no pointless dialogue, and the convolutions are minimal. It just whirs along like a well-oiled machine. Michael Mann would be proud.
★★★★
