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Sicario: Day of the Soldado

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"Day of the Soldado" redirects here. Not to be confused with Dia do Soldado.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado (also known as Sicario 2: Soldado and Soldado) is a 2018 American action-thriller film[5] directed by Stefano Sollima and written by Taylor Sheridan. A sequel to 2015's Sicario, the film features Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, and Raoul Trujillo reprising their roles, with Isabela Moner, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Catherine Keener joining the cast. The story relates to human trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border and an attempt by the United States government to incite increased conflict among the cartels.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado
A skull decorated with guns
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStefano Sollima
Written byTaylor Sheridan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDariusz Wolski
Edited byMatthew Newman
Music byHildur Guðnadóttir
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • June 11, 2018 (2018-06-11) (Antara Polanco)
  • June 29, 2018 (2018-06-29) (United States)
Running time
122 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish[2]
Budget$35–45 million[3]
Box office$75.8 million[4]

Sicario: Day of the Soldado was released in the United States and Canada on June 29, 2018, by Sony Pictures Releasing under its Columbia Pictures label, while it was distributed internationally by Lionsgate (excluding Latin America and Spain, where it was distributed by Sony). The film is dedicated to the memory of Jóhann Jóhannsson, the composer of the first film, who died four months before it came out.

It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[6] A sequel, titled Sicario: Capos, is in development.[7]

Plot

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A suicide bombing by ISIS in a Kansas City grocery store kills fifteen people. In response, the United States government orders CIA officer Matt Graver to apply extreme measures to combat Mexican drug cartels who are suspected of having smuggled the terrorists across the Mexico–United States border. Graver and the Department of Defense decide the best option is to instigate a war between the major cartels, and Graver recruits operative Alejandro Gillick for the mission. Graver also meets with PMC entrepreneur Andy Wheeldon to purchase mercenaries, helicopters, and encrypted communication equipment for the U.S. to maintain plausible deniability while combating the Mexican cartels.

Gillick assassinates a high-profile lawyer of the Matamoros cartel in Mexico City while Graver and his team kidnap Isabel Reyes, the daughter of Carlos Reyes (kingpin of the Sonoran cartel, rivals of the Matamoros), in a false flag operation.

Graver, Gillick, and their team take Isabel to a safe house in Texas and stage a DEA raid pretending to rescue her from the Matamoros cartel. They take her to an American military base while the team organizes her return to Mexico. They plan to leave her behind in a Mexican Federal Police depot located inside territory controlled by her father's rivals to further escalate the inter-cartel conflict. However, after they cross into Mexico, the corrupt police escort turns against them and attacks the American armored vehicles. In the firefight that ensues, Graver and his team kill 25 Mexican policemen to escape the ambush.

Amidst the chaos, Isabel, who realizes that Graver's team may have been behind her abduction, tries to escape and runs away into the desert. Gillick goes after her alone while the rest of the team returns to the United States. Meanwhile, the American government determined that at least two of the suicide bombers in Kansas City were domestic terrorists, not foreign nationals, and thus were not smuggled into the United States by the cartels. To quell tensions with Mexico, the Secretary of Defense orders the CIA to abandon the mission. Learning that Isabel witnessed the Americans shooting the Mexican police, the Secretary orders the team to erase all proof of American involvement by killing Isabel and Gillick. Graver in turn warns Gillick and orders him to kill Isabel, but Gillick refuses and turns rogue to keep her alive. Both have found shelter at an isolated farm in the desert for the night. Gillick knows that if they stay in Mexico, Isabel will be killed. With few resources, they disguise themselves as illegal immigrants and pay human traffickers to help them re-enter the United States. Graver and his team fly covertly into Mexico on Black Hawks, tracking a GPS device that Gillick has activated and embedded into Isabel's shoe.

At the point of departure for the border, Miguel, a young Mexican-American who has been recruited as a coyote, recognizes Gillick from an encounter in a Texas parking lot two days earlier. He alerts his boss, who takes Gillick and Isabel hostage. As a gang initiation, Miguel is forced to shoot a hooded Gillick in the head. Upset, Miguel abandons the gang and walks off by himself. Graver witnesses the apparent killing of Gillick via satellite imaging and his team tracks down and eliminates the Mexican gang. They find Isabel, and defying his orders, Graver decides to bring her to the U.S. and place her in witness protection. Meanwhile, Gillick regains consciousness, having been shot through the cheek. He is chased by a gang search party but he kills its members by throwing a grenade into the pursuing car.

One year later, a now heavily gang-tattooed Miguel is in the Texas mall where he first saw Gillick. He enters the office of his gang contact but instead finds Gillick waiting for him. Gillick says to a dumbfounded and intimidated Miguel: "So you want to be a sicario? Let's talk about your future."

Cast

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Production

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Development

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In September 2015, Lionsgate commissioned a sequel to Sicario, centering on Benicio del Toro's character. The project was being overseen by the writer Taylor Sheridan, with Denis Villeneuve initially involved.[8] In April 2016, producers Molly Smith and Trent Luckinbill said Emily Blunt, del Toro and Josh Brolin would return.[9][10] By June 1, 2016, Italian director Stefano Sollima had been hired to direct what was now titled Soldado from a script by Sheridan.[11] On October 27, 2016, Catherine Keener was cast in the film, which Lionsgate and Black Label Media financed, and which was produced by Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk, Black Label's Molly Smith and Thad and Trent Luckinbill, and Edward McDonnell.[12] By November 2016, Blunt was no longer attached.[13] The following month, Isabela Moner, David Castaneda and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo joined the cast.[14][15][16] Jeffrey Donovan, who returned as Steve Forsing, said that the story would focus on Forsing, Gillick and Graver "going down into Mexico to basically start a war, on purpose, between the rival Mexican cartels," and described the film as a "stand-alone spin-off" rather than a sequel or prequel.[17] In January 2017, Elijah Rodriguez, Matthew Modine and Ian Bohen also joined the cast.[18][19][20] Sheridan said, "if Sicario is a film about the militarization of police and that blending over, this is removing the policing aspect from it."[21]

Filming

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Principal photography on the film began in New Mexico on November 8, 2016,[22] and then it was shot in Mexico City and Tijuana, Baja California.[23]

Music

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Hildur Guðnadóttir composed the score for the film, after collaborating with Jóhann Jóhannsson on the first film as a cello soloist. The soundtrack was released by Varese Sarabande Records.[citation needed]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Attack"3:32
2."The Bomber"1:35
3."Gulf of Somalia"2:15
4."Miguel Takes Money"1:42
5."Start a War"2:22
6."The Kidnap"3:29
7."Moving Isabelle"1:09
8."Santa Claus"4:25
9."Convoy"4:44
10."Alejandro Saves Isabelle"2:30
11."The Rescue"1:34
12."Journey to Border"4:28
13."The Execution"1:37
14."Survivors"1:27
Total length:36:49

[24]

Release

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The film was originally set to be released by Lionsgate in the United States, under the title Soldado, but a disagreement between Lionsgate and production company Black Label Media saw the North American distribution rights change to Sony Pictures Releasing through its Columbia Pictures label, who then changed the title to Sicario 2: Soldado (which is the UK title) and then thereafter to Sicario: Day of the Soldado, in the North American market. Sony Pictures distributed the film in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Spain, while Lionsgate distributed it in the United Kingdom, as well as handling international rights to other independent distributors.[25] In August 2017, Sony set the release date for June 29, 2018.[26]

Marketing

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On December 19, 2017, the first trailer was released.[27] The second trailer debuted on March 19, 2018, confirming the new title as Sicario: Day of the Soldado.[28][29] The film was released outside North America under the title Sicario 2: Soldado in some locations, and in Italy, the Philippines and others keeping the initial title of Soldado.

Reception

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Box office

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Sicario: Day of the Soldado grossed $50.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $25.7 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $75.8 million.[5] The studio has stated the production budget was $35 million, although Deadline Hollywood reported the film cost as high as $45 million before prints and advertising.[3]

In the United States and Canada, Day of the Soldado was released alongside Uncle Drew, and was initially projected to gross around $12 million from 3,055 theaters in its opening weekend.[30] After making $7.5 million on its first day (including $2 million from Thursday night previews), estimates were raised to $19 million. Its debut was ultimately $19.1 million, an improvement over the $12.1 million the first film took in during its wide expansion, and third at the box office that weekend, behind other sequels such as Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Incredibles 2.[3] It fell 61% in its second weekend, to $7.3 million, finishing fifth at the box office.[31]

Critical response

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On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Day of the Soldado holds an approval rating of 62% based on 290 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though less subversive than its predecessor, Sicario: Day of the Soldado succeeds as a stylish, dynamic thriller—even if its amoral machismo makes for grim viewing."[32] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 50 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[33] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale, down from the first film's "A−".[3]

Variety's Peter Debruge called the film "tense, tough, and shockingly ruthless at times," and wrote, "Soldado may not be as masterful as Villeneuve's original, but it sets up a world of possibilities for elaborating on a complex conflict far too rich to be resolved in two hours."[34] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as a "worthy, rough-and-tough sequel", highlighting the direction, lead performances and Sheridan's script, and saying "Sicario: Day of the Soldado emerges as a dynamic action drama in its own right."[35]

Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a 'B' rating, praising the performance of Del Toro while criticizing the plot, stating: "Alejandro (played by Del Toro) assassinates a cartel functionary in broad daylight... He executes the man, firing his gun exactly 417 times. So Sicario 2 is junk, but it's terrifically stylish junk. Director Stefano Solima has worked in Italian crime thrillers, and he brings run-and-gun humanity to this, suggesting complexities of border society where the first film defaulted to moody hellscapery".[36] Time magazine's Stephanie Zacharek found the film to be adequate, though lacking the presence of a character in the sequel as emotive as the one played by Emily Blunt in the original, stating: "There's not a Blunt in sight, though special task force macho men Matt Graver and Alejandro... return. This time their job is to stir up a war between rival Mexican drug cartels; part of the scheme involves kidnapping a drug lord's scrappy teenage daughter. Although she has enough teen-beat orneriness to kick both Matt's and Alejandro's butts, the movie doesn't let her."[37] In an opinion piece for NBC News, Ani Bundel called the film "as implausible as it is irresponsible" and criticized the use of negative stereotypes, concluding that the film "is the worst kind of propaganda, in that it probably doesn't even realize just how harmful it is."[38] Monica Castillo at IndieWire describes the first film as an unsympathetic portrayal of Mexicans, and compares the sequel to state-sanctioned propaganda, decrying the "xenophobic absurdity" of it.[39]

Sequel

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In June 2018, before the release of Soldado, producer Trent Luckinbill stated that a third film was in development.[40] In January 2021, it was noted that the producers hoped to start filming of a third installment in the spring or summer of that year. It was revealed that the third film will be named Sicario: Capos.[41] In February 2021, producer Molly Smith said the film was still in development.[42] In September 2023, it was reported that a script was being written before the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, with writers ready to continue whenever the strike should end.[43] In late October 2023, Christopher McQuarrie was confirmed to be involved in the third film, with producers saying the script was nearly complete.[44][45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SICARIO 2: SOLDADO (15)". British Board of Film Classification. May 15, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. ^ "SICARIO 2: SOLDADO (15)". British Board of Film Classification. May 15, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 29, 2018). "At $2.5B To Date, Summer's B.O. Is More Colossal Than Ever Imagined; Dinos Still Rule With $60M+ Second Weekend". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Clopton, Eric (June 26, 2018). "'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  7. ^ Fogarty, Paul (May 8, 2023). "Sicario 3 Release Date, Netflix Trailer, Cast, Expected Plot". CasTalkie. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Lang, Brent (September 21, 2015). "'Sicario' Sequel in the Works at Lionsgate". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  9. ^ Jaugernauth, Kevin (April 1, 2016). "Producers Say Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro And Josh Brolin Will Return For 'Sicario 2'". IndieWire. Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  10. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (March 31, 2016). "Demolition' Producers Talk Indie Film Strategy, 'Sicario 2' Plans and Move to TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  11. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 1, 2016). "'Gomorra's Stefano Sollima To Helm Benicio Del Toro & Josh Brolin In 'Sicario' Sequel 'Soldado'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 27, 2016). "Catherine Keener Joins Benicio Del Toro & Josh Brolin In 'Sicario' Sequel 'Soldado'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  13. ^ Shoard, Catherine (November 28, 2016). "Emily Blunt's character written out of Sicario 2". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  14. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (December 9, 2016). "'Sicario' Sequel 'Soldado' Adds Isabela Moner". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  15. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 15, 2016). "David Castaneda Joins 'Sicario' Sequel 'Soldado'". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  16. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (December 13, 2016). "Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Joins 'Sicario' Sequel, Signs With WME". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  17. ^ Chitwood, Adam; Radish, Christina (November 26, 2016). "'Sicario' Sequel 'Soldado' Story Details Teased by Jeffery Donovan". Collider. Complex Media. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  18. ^ Busch, Anita (January 4, 2017). "Elijah Rodriguez Joins 'Soldado'; Tommy Alastra Prods' 'Jackals' Wraps; XLrator Catches 'Drifter' – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Busch, Anita (January 13, 2017). "'Stranger Things' Matthew Modine Joins Cast Of 'Soldado'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  20. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (January 18, 2017). "'Soldado' Cast 'Teen Wolf' Actor Ian Bohen; Laurence Mason Boards 'LAbyrinth'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  21. ^ Chitwood, Adam (January 27, 2017). "Taylor Sheridan on Directing 'Wind River', Parallels to 'Hell or High Water', and 'Soldado'". Collider. Complex Media. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  22. ^ Goundry, Nick (November 8, 2016). "Sicario sequel starts filming in New Mexico". KFTV. Media Business Insight. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  23. ^ "Sicario sequel starts filming in New Mexico".
  24. ^ "Sicario: Day Of The Soldado (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Soundtrack.net.
  25. ^ McNary, Dave (April 24, 2017). "'Sicario' Sequel, 'Granite Mountain' Move From Lionsgate to Sony". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "Sony Dates 'Silver And Black', 'Sicario 2'; Moves 'Holmes And Watson', 'Bad Boys 3' Unset & More". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. August 11, 2017.
  27. ^ Cotter, Padraig (December 19, 2017). "Sicario 2: Soldado Trailer Starts a War with Everyone". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  28. ^ McNary, Dave (March 19, 2018). "There Are No Rules in 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' Trailer". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  29. ^ Alexander, Bryan (March 18, 2018). "Exclusive trailer: Benicio Del Toro's killer returns in 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  30. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 27, 2018). "'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' Won't Face Extinction With $60M Second Weekend; Dinos Roar Will $18M+ Tuesday – B.O. Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  31. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 8, 2018). "'Ant-Man And The Wasp' Shrinks A Tick To $76M+ Opening, But Still 34% Bigger Than Original – Early Sunday Read". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  32. ^ "Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  33. ^ "Sicario: Day of the Soldado Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  34. ^ Debruge, Peter (June 20, 2018). "Film Review: 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado'". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  35. ^ McCarthy, Todd (June 20, 2018). "'Sicario: Day of the Soldado': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  36. ^ Franich, Darren (June 20, 2018). "Sicario: Day of the Soldado throws a grenade into the immigration debate: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  37. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (July 5, 2018). "Sicario: Day of the Soldado returns to the border". Time. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  38. ^ Bundel, Ani (July 1, 2018). "'Sicario: Day of Soldado' is a poorly written blockbuster filled with racist stereotypes. Hollywood should know better". NBC News. NBCUniversal. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  39. ^ Castillo, Monica (June 29, 2018). "'Sicario: Day of Soldado' Doubles Down on Mexican Stereotypes and Violent MAGA Fantasies — Opinion". IndieWire. Penske Business Media. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  40. ^ Zinski, Dan (June 15, 2018). "You Can 'Absolutely' Expect Sicario 3 To Happen". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  41. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 1, 2021). "Taking Flight: The Story Behind War Epic 'Devotion' And Its Little-Known American Heroes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  42. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 1, 2021). "Taking Flight: The Story Behind War Epic 'Devotion' And Its Little-Known American Heroes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  43. ^ Lawrence, Derek (September 15, 2023). "Sicario 3 Is Happening: 'The Idea Is Awesome' (Exclusive)". The Messenger. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  44. ^ Massoto, Erick (October 30, 2023). "Christopher McQuarrie Is Working on 'Sicario 3' [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  45. ^ Massoto, Erick (October 31, 2023). "'Sicario 3' Producers Reveal the Threequel Is Further Along Than We Thought". Collider. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
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