Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Benicio Del Toro Director: Stefano Sollima Stefano Sollima

Overview

The series begins a new chapter as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the U.S. border. Federal agent Matt Graver calls on the mysterious Alejandro, whose family was murdered by a cartel kingpin, to escalate the drug war in nefarious ways. Alejandro kidnaps the kingpin's daughter to inflame the conflict, but when the girl is seen as collateral damage, her fate will come between the two men.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/02/2018
UPC:	0043396526853
Original Release:	2018
Rating:	R
Source:	Sony Pictures
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	11,906

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Benicio Del Toro	Alejandro Gillick
Josh Brolin	Matt Graver
Catherine Keener	Cynthia Foards
Matthew Modine	James Ridley
Isabela Moner	Isabela Reyes
Shea Whigham	Andy Wheeldon
Ian Bohen	Carson Wright
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo	Gallo
Jake Picking	Shawn
Bruno Bichir	Angel
Elijah Rodriguez	Miguel Hernandez
Howard Ferguson	Troy
David Castaneda	Hector
Jacqueline Torres	Blandina
Raoul Trujillo	Rafael
Tenzin Marco-Taylor	José
Alfredo Quiroz	Teenage Soldier
Nick Shakoour	Rocking Man
Joseph Garcia	Border Agent #1
J.D. Marmion	Border Agent #2
Hector Dez	Border Agent #2
Jon Kristian Moore	Border Agent #4
Thang Khan Gin	Burmese Migrant #1
Mang Khai	Burmese Migrant #2
Zaw Tan	Burmese Migrant #3
Rob Franco	K-9 Agent
Sakariya Ali	Somali Militiaman
Faysal Ahmed	Bashiir
Dan Davidson	Col. Kenneth Walter
Graham Beckel	Dale Hammonds
Sherman Allen	Gen. Arno McCullough
Mickey Dolan	Bus Stop Teen
Alejandro De La Pena	Balding Man
Iliana Donatian	Mexican News Reporter
Lourdes Del Rio Garcia	Miranda
Christopher Heyerdahl	Headmaster Deats
JD Garfield	Alberto
Stafford Douglas	Naval Intelligence Officer
Oscar Avila	Mexican Border Guard
Fernando Urquides	Tattooed Gangster
Tasha Ames	Young Blonde Woman
Ryan Begay	Javier
Diane Villegas	Ida
Rick Vargas	49ers Man
Ibrahim Renno	Costco Terrorist #1
Beth Bailey	Mother Victim
Alex Cacho	Costco Terrorist #2
Lloyd Voights	Gulfstream Pilot
Brian Reynolds	Blackhawk Pilot #1
Fred North	Blackhawk Pilot #2
Arturo Maese Bernal	Mexican Lookout #1
Billy R. Sanchez	Mexican Migrant #1
Gary Anthony Castro	Mexican Migrant #2
Jeffrey Donovan	Actor

Technical Credits

Taylor Sheridan

Stefano Sollima	Director
Jo Edna Boldin	Casting
Marisa Frantz	Art Director
Jonathan Gregoire	Animator
Hildur Gudnadottir	Score Composer
Basil Iwanyk	Producer
Carlos Y. Jacques	Art Director
Kevin Kavanaugh	Production Designer
Erica Lee	Producer
Erica Lee	Executive Producer
Trent Luckinbill	Producer
Thad Luckinbill	Producer
Bonnie Masoner	Makeup
Edward L. McDonnell	Producer
Emma McGill	Associate Producer
Michael Meinardus	Special Effects Supervisor
Richard Middleton	Executive Producer
Donald Murphy	Asst. Director
Kevin Murray	Sound Editor
Matthew Newman	Editor
Marisol Roncali	Casting
Ellen H. Schwartz	Executive Producer
Deborah L. Scott	Costumes/Costume Designer
Taylor Sheridan	Screenwriter
Molly Smith	Producer
Mary Vernieu	Casting
Jonathan Watkins	Musical Direction/Supervision
Dariusz Wolski	Cinematographer

Editorial Reviews

Sicario: Day of the Soldado acts as more of a stand-alone film rather than a direct sequel to its predecessor. Director Stefano Sollima had a challenging task at hand, as this film was always going to be judged against 2015's Sicario. In many ways, the film lives up to the original, and is only hampered by a convoluted story with no fresh takes on the genre. The film opens at the border, where a group of people are desperately trying to cross. As they are stopped, it becomes clear to the United States government that a few members of ISIS are getting into the country through Mexico. Following a tragic bombing in Kansas City, the government is now authorized to act as they please. Enter Matt Graver (Josh Brolin), an expert at interfering with Mexican cartels. We learn that in addition to the drugs, guns and other illicit activities in which the cartel does business, the real money comes through smuggling people over the border. With the help of Graver's source Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), the United States government decides to start a war between rival Mexican cartels, in a last-ditch effort to distract and condense the gang presence at the border. Day of the Soldado is able to capture the tone of the original film, using sound and engaging camera sequences. Some of the choreographed shots of military Humvees through the Mexican desert are just plain cool. The sound effects and music are spot on, really throwing the audience into the heart of the action. Pair this tone with some phenomenal acting by Brolin and Del Toro, and you'll have enough content to capture your attention. Although Brolin tends to mumble through some of his lines, the seasoned actors really drive this film, especially when on screen together. The film falters in its messy story, never truly capturing the realism of the original. There is never someone to root for, or maybe more importantly, root against. Revenge is no longer a key theme like we saw in the original, and the two protagonists are definitely still "bad guys." What saved them in the first movie was a clear villain, a Mexican kingpin who destroyed Alejandro's family. They may have been bad guys, but they weren't the worst guys. Day of the Soldado instead focuses on Alejandro and Graver, exploring the dynamic between two men trying to do something for the greater good at any cost. The film never gets too preachy. Sollima and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan instead concentrate on making an entertaining crime drama, and for the most part, they succeed. Fans of the first film will definitely enjoy Day of the Soldado, and the movie will definitely draw in a few new fans as well. The film may be unfairly criticized because Sicario was so good, but that should not take away from everything it does right. There are moments that will have you on the edge of your seat, and there are moments that will have you rolling your eyes. Take the ridiculous story with a grain of salt, and you'll have a good time with the latest rendition of Sicario.

All Movie Guide - Travis Norris