If you want to see one of the best films of 2015, I suggest going to your local theater to watch director Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario. Loaded with great performances, a fantastic script, and tremendous cinematography by Roger Deakins, it’s one of those rare films where everything works perfectly and you walk out remembering why you love cinema.
While at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival I landed an extended video interview with Denis Villeneuve. He talked about making Sicario on a limited budget, the editing process, why he hates putting deleted scenes on Blu-rays, and cutting the best shot of his life from Prisoners and making Roger Deakins mad. He also talked extensively about Blade Runner 2, which he will direct. He discussed its script, the various cuts of the first movie, how long it took to convince Roger Deakins to shoot the sequel, and so much more. If you’re a fan of this gifted director I’m sure you will enjoy the interview.
Finally, for those that don’t know anything about Sicario, the film stars Emily Blunt as an FBI agent who’s assigned to assist in the war on drugs on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. She sets out on a top-secret mission under the leadership of a questionable consultant (Benicio Del Toro) whose actions make her rethink what she’s committed herself to. Josh Brolin, who plays an elite government task force official, also stars alongside Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber, and Jeffrey Donovan. For more on Sicario, read Adam’s review and why he thinks it’s a serious awards contender in a number of Oscar categories.
Here’s what Denis Villeneuve had to say:
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Denis Villeneuve Time Index:
- :10 – Talks about just having wrapped Story of Your Life.
- :50 – His reaction when he first read the script.
- 2:32 – How Sicario has a link to Prisoners.
- 3:00 – Making the movie on a limited budget.
- 4:37 – Discusses the editing process. Says if he wasn’t a director, he’d be an editor.
- 6:35 – Says there will never be an extended cut of the film, and he hates putting deleted scenes on Blu-rays.
- 7:27 – Talks about cutting the best shot of his life from Prisoners and making Roger Deakins mad.
- 9:40 – Blade Runner 2. Talks about his “deep fear” of making a sequel to a beloved film.
- 11:09 – Talks about the “powerful” script for Blade Runner 2.
- 12:23 – On making a sequel that respect what was done but is also its own film.
- 14:14 – Which cut of Blade Runner is his favorite, and which is he treating as “canon”?
- 15:50 – Talks about how knowing less about the movie going in is better.
- 16:50 – How did Harrison Ford finally say “yes” to Blade Runner 2?
- 17:28 – Getting Roger Deakins to shoot Blade Runner.
