Sicario - 3 nominations

Cinematography - Roger Deakins
Sound Editing, Alan Robert Murray

Music (Original Score), Jóhann Jóhannsson

Emily Blunt plays FBI Agent Kate Macer who has been recruited to a special task force to fight the drug war in Mexico, particularly focusing on a specific Cartel who has perpetrated evil and disgusting acts of violence across both borders.  She works with Alejandro (Benicio del Toro) who is the team leader and has a personal history of his own with this despot.  The movie is extremely engaging, yet extremely depressing as you begin to process the scope of the problem and the seemingly insurmountable challenges in conquering this threat.  I'd like to particularly note the work of Daniel Kaluuya who plays Blunt's FBI partner as I thought he was excellent in the role.

The cinematography is indeed impressive when one considers the amount of footage shot inside tunnels compounded with the multiple kinds of landscapes and settings in the film.  As a shoot-em-up, the sound editing nomination aligns with the other nominees, but might not have the same complexity as the other nominees to bring it to the top.  As always, Johann Johannson produced an excellent score, and you'll possibly remember him for his nomination for last year's, The Theory of Everything, for which I frankly thought he would win.

Sicario is unlikely to win any awards at this year's ceremony, and yet it is very much worth a watch.