The Rewatchables: 'Sicario'

With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
Date: March 3, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode brings together Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey for a comprehensive deep-dive into Denis Villeneuve's 2015 thriller Sicario. The conversation—lively, irreverent, and thoughtful—explores the film’s relentless tension, political undertones, iconic performances, and rewatchability through the signature Rewatchables categories. The hosts also reflect on where Sicario stands in the modern action canon, its place in the filmographies of its cast and crew, and the broader cultural moment of its release.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Sicario Resonates (MM:16–08:00)

• Chris Ryan’s Obsession:
  “Every frame of every shot of every scene is interesting to look at. The story, the dialogue, the themes are deeply fascinating… it’s just like a perfect movie to me.” (03:16 - Chris Ryan)
• Complex Moral Terrain:
  The hosts agree that Sicario’s adult, “morally complicated” storytelling sets it apart, making it less about black-and-white heroes and more about shades of gray in the drug war ("...there's no right, only degrees of wrong." —Bill Simmons, 09:02).

2. Villeneuve’s Direction and Vibe (MM:03:45–05:30)

• Distinctive Style:
  Sean: "He’s a little bit Ridley Scott, a little bit Stanley Kubrick… It’s really nice little mixture." (04:02)
• Cinematography:
  High praise for Roger Deakins: "Some of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen in my life.” (27:50 - Chris Ryan); the dusk/tunnel scenes are called out as visually iconic.

3. Rewatchable Entry Points (04:15–04:52)

• The movie is packed with set pieces that work as standalone watches:
  • Opening raid
  • Border crossing
  • Tunnel operation
  • The climactic home invasion

4. Apocalypse Now Comparison & Story Structure (04:55–07:53)

• Chris sees Sicario as a modern Apocalypse Now, exploring a "seemingly never-ending war" with a peak in visceral action ("31st minute of the movie…like the Flight of the Valkyries scene in Apocalypse Now.") and descending into something “much deeper and more contemplative.”
• "You have the Kurtz character" (Del Toro/Alejandro), and Emily Blunt’s protagonist is likened to "a shivering puddle" by the end, paralleling Martin Sheen’s arc.

5. Character Analysis & Writing (10:11–11:14; 16:13–19:38)

• Is Kate a Great Character?
  “She’s not a deep character.” (11:17 - Chris Ryan)
• Taylor Sheridan’s Writing:
  The emergence of Sheridan’s voice is pivotal—Sicario marked his debut as a screenwriter, leading to Yellowstone and an entire television empire. The hosts reflect on how the film cut much of Del Toro’s dialogue, making Alejandro more mysterious and effective.

6. Casting & Performance Highlights (14:05–15:06)

• Unique Ensemble:
  • Emily Blunt is praised for her credibility and physicality.
  • Del Toro’s minimalism: “He elevates every movie he’s in. It’s a very, very good stare.” (21:46)
  • Josh Brolin: "Seems like he’s having an unusually great time for the circumstances.” (31:49)
• Best Decade “Banger” Game:
  A fun tangent about actors who delivered memorable roles across decades—De Niro, Cruise, Streep, Pacino, Brolin, and Del Toro all assessed.

7. Socio-Political Subtext (53:46–56:36)

• Drug War Depiction:
  Sean: “Drug cartels running entire countries and subverting power structures has aged well. It's still happening right now.” (55:19)
• The film doesn’t glamorize, but instead complicates, the American role and policy ambivalence in the drug war.

8. Most Rewatchable Scenes (38:11–51:11)

• Unanimous choice: The Juarez border crossing sequence (51:05–51:11), for its tension and military precision, compared in quality to the bank heist from Heat.
• Also cited: Opening raid, bar sequence with Kate and Reggie, tunnel infiltration, climactic dinner assassination scene.

9. "A Movie for Adults" (06:55–07:11)

• “It's a movie for adults…morally complicated…it’s about history. It’s about actual contemporary conflict.”—Sean Fennessey (06:57)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Opening Theme & Introduction: 00:00–02:29
• Chris Explains His Love for Sicario: 02:29–03:45
• Villeneuve/Kubrick/Scott Comparison: 04:02–04:12
• Apocalypse Now vs Sicario: 04:55–07:53
• Core Quotes on Moral Gray Areas: 09:02–09:59
• Kate Character Debate: 10:11–11:14
• Taylor Sheridan’s Screenwriting Influence: 15:35–19:38
• Casting Talk & Actor “Decade Banger” Game: 21:22–25:58
• Rewatchable Scene Deep-Dive (Juarez Border): 38:11–51:11
• Cinematography and Deakins: 27:40–28:49
• Sheridan’s Sociopolitical Themes: 53:46–56:36
• Best/Worst Aging Aspects: 54:05–57:22

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chris Ryan:

  • “The structure of this movie is pretty fascinating…Sicario to Apocalypse Now…our lifetime's ‘war that can’t be understood.’” (04:55)
  • “Every line [Del Toro] says is memorable…I'm going to remember that for the rest of my life.” (24:20)

• Bill Simmons:

  • “There’s no right, only degrees of wrong.” (09:02)
  • “Don’t expect your movie hero to end up the hero all the time in a movie.” (09:29)
  • “I like this guy—oh, no, I don’t like this guy.” (58:46, about Bernthal’s character)
  • “Most rewatchable scene?...The 21-minute border crossing sequence.” (51:11)

• Sean Fennessey:

  • “He’s a little bit Ridley Scott, a little bit Stanley Kubrick.” (04:02)
  • “Del Toro’s character…he is the titular character.” (18:24)
  • “I would also take it one step further and say that the movie is not really very interested in psychologizing any of its characters.” (17:59)
  • “The success of Yellowstone is the biggest loss for movies of the last decade.” (77:48, Hottest Take)

Deep-Dive: Most Rewatchable Scenes

• Opening Raid ([38:11]):
  Features the grisly discovery of bodies in the wall and sets the film's grim tone.
• Juarez Convoy / Border Crossing ([41:35–51:11]):
  Universally cited for its gripping tension, clarity of action, and immersive editing.
• Bar Hookup Scene ([45:15–47:16]):
  Kate’s near-strangulation punctuates her loss of innocence and trust.
• Tunnel Sequence ([47:58–48:19]):
  The film’s darkness—literal and figurative—culminates here.
• Dinner Scene Assassination ([48:19–50:39]):
  “Time to meet God.” Possibly the darkest, most hard-hitting climactic moment.

Awards & Categories Debated

• Best Performance:
  Unanimous acclaim for Benicio Del Toro, with Chris Ryan noting, “This is one of the reasons this movie is so rewatchable and so good—he's a little more mysterious.” (19:19)
• Biggest Nitpick/Weak Link:
  The film’s density and ambiguity around FBI/CIA operations make it hard to follow on first watch (66:43–67:09).
• Aging the Best/Worst:
  • Moral ambiguity, the depiction of the drug war, and info-card intros praised.
  • Kate’s continued insistence on process/protocol critiqued.
  • Portrayal of Juarez as “scariest city on earth” hasn’t aged perfectly.

Fun Tangents & In-Jokes

• Actor “Decade Banger” Game:
  Playfully ranking actors (De Niro, Cruise, Streep, Pacino, Brolin, Del Toro) with signature roles each decade (25:00).
• Bill’s “Floyd Gondoli” Award:
  Enjoyment of any “there’s rumors of a tunnel” line in a drug movie (62:55).
• Franchise Tag Idea:
  Craig proposes a “no sequel” committee to prevent unnecessary follow-ups to great films (87:27).

Quickfire: Additional Insights

• Script Changes:
  Big deviations from Sheridan’s original script, including major cuts to dialogue, especially for Alejandro (16:19–16:31).
• Emily Blunt’s Run:
  Noted transition from comedic/romantic roles (Devil Wears Prada) to action (Looper, Edge of Tomorrow, Sicario).
• Casting What-ifs:
  Blunt considered irreplaceable, but Kate Winslet (time-shifted) is floated as a hypothetical.
• Sequels and Prestige TV:
  Soldado is “a cable movie,” with some intrigue in a possible TV adaptation.

Concluding Thoughts and Episode Tone

• The conversation is fast, witty, and digressive—jumping from serious thematic analysis to playful rankings and inside movie/baseball jokes.
• The hosts agree that Sicario is a rare film for adults: tightly constructed, technically brilliant, and narratively challenging.
• The border convoy scene is celebrated as one of the greatest action set pieces of the century.
• Despite its darkness, the movie’s “rewatchability” is confirmed by the hosts’ repeated viewing and unpacking of new detail each time.

Final Takeaway & Who Won the Movie

• Winner: Taylor Sheridan—his debut script launched arguably the must influential American screenwriting/TV career of the past decade (“It sends him on this incredible trajectory where he’s arguably one of the most powerful people in entertainment right now.” —Chris Ryan, 113:28)
• Honorable mentions: Benicio Del Toro for an all-timer in enigmatic anti-hero acting; Denis Villeneuve & Roger Deakins for style and craft.

For Your Next Watch

• Double Feature Suggestions:
  • Sicario 2: Soldado
  • Heat
  • King of New York
  • Fast Five (for tunnel action)

(For a complete breakdown of Rewatchables categories and more movie deep-dives, find The Rewatchables at The Ringer or on YouTube.)