Soldado (2018)
Soldado (also known as Sicario: Day of the Soldado) is a high-octane thriller that expands on the brutal world of drug cartels and covert government operations introduced in the 2015 film Sicario. Directed by Stefano Sollima, the film follows Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro), two morally complex operatives who are thrust into a dangerous mission to combat the Mexican drug cartel’s smuggling operations, but their actions spiral out of control, leading to deadly consequences.
The story begins when the U.S. government, in a response to the increasing cartel violence, designates the Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. To combat this growing threat, the U.S. launches an unorthodox and covert operation to incite a war between rival cartels by kidnapping the young daughter of a cartel kingpin. Graver, a tough and pragmatic CIA operative, and Alejandro, a former prosecutor turned hitman, are called into action to execute this dangerous mission.
Things take a darker turn when the mission goes awry. Alejandro, who has his own personal vendetta against the cartels, is pushed to his limits, while Graver wrestles with the consequences of their extreme tactics. As the operation unravels, the boundaries between right and wrong blur, and the line between law enforcement and criminality becomes indistinguishable.
The plot intensifies when Isabella Reyes (Isabela Moner), the kidnapped daughter, becomes a key figure in the escalating violence. As she finds herself caught in the middle of a cartel war, Graver and Alejandro are forced to make increasingly difficult decisions, testing their moral compass and loyalty to their government. The film showcases the complexities of the war on drugs and the personal cost of using violence as a means to an end.
With a brutal and gritty style, Soldado explores the harsh realities of the drug war, political manipulation, and the toll it takes on those who operate in the shadows. The characters, especially Graver and Alejandro, are depicted as morally ambiguous figures who are forced to confront the collateral damage caused by their actions. The film dives into themes of revenge, loyalty, and the impact of unchecked violence, with a tense and unrelenting pace that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Soldado is a powerful and grim exploration of the consequences of the war on drugs, continuing the intense and thought-provoking narrative of Sicario while introducing new layers of complexity in the fight against drug cartels. With strong performances from Brolin and del Toro, the film delivers an action-packed, yet emotionally charged experience, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.