EWAN CAMERON picks out two fascinating music shows, fusing the Korean, and the Celtic, with the modern
Latest editorial
Film round up
BENJAMIN POTHIER suggests that Palaeolithic cave paintings in Spain point to the ceremonial use of hallucinogenic flora
The bard confirms that the right has a humour bypass, and replays the English Revolution on period instruments
MARIA DUARTE and ANDY HEDGECOCK review Sunny Dancer, Tony, Songs of Forgotten Trees, and The End of Oak Street
JOHN GREEN relishes a powerful and moving drama that explores the lived realities of west London’s Punjabi community
MARTIN HALL welcomes a plea for greater compassion between believer and non-believer via the framework of philosophical enquiry
Sicario (15)
Directed by Dennis Villeneuve
4/5
WHEN you learn from the opening credits that “sicario” is Mexican drug-cartel slang for “hitman,” your heart might sink at the prospect of yet another US lawmen versus murderous Mexican narcotics gangsters action thriller.
Fortuitously, such expectations are unfounded. Unsentimental direction and a cynical but terrifyingly credible screenplay by Taylor Sheridan and ideally cast players are free from the predictably patronising narrative and character cliches of similar genre thrillers.
Similar stories
Angus Reid speaks to JAZZ BHALLA about the genesis of his superb feature debut, Never Had A Chance, in cinemas this weekend
MARIA DUARTE and ANDY HEDGECOCK review Sunny Dancer, Tony, Songs of Forgotten Trees, and The End of Oak Street
ANDY HEDGECOCK, MARIA DUARTE and ANGUS REID review Synthetic Sincerity, Our Hero, Balthazar, Heartstopper Forever, and A Year In London
MARIA DUARTE, JAMES WALSH and ANDY HEDGECOCK review The Invite, My Father’s Island, Nirvanna: the Band, the Show, the Movie, and Oh My Goodness!