Review The Cartel (2018)

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
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The Cartel
Director: Ridley Scott (“Alien: Covenant,” “Gladiator”)
Cast: Unknown
Details: Don Winslow’s mammoth 2015 bestseller is an epic to say the least. The fat book covers a decade in the Mexican-American drug war and has been dubbed the ”War and Peace” of dope war books by none other than James Ellroy. The story follows veteran DEA agent Art Keller and his blood feud with Adan Barrera, the head of the world’s most powerful cartel whom Keller put away at great cost. Then Barrera escapes custody, and so begins a decade-long odyssey to bring him down.

Adapting the dense work is a Herculean task, so much so that screenwriter David Scarpa says the film will serve more as a companion piece than a direct adaptation. The last time someone used that ‘companion piece’ terminology though was for “The Dark Tower” which didn’t turn out well. Though it doesn’t yet have a start of production date, Scott is determined to make it in 2018 and can turn out films at a rapid pace so don’t be too surprised if it’s out before year’s end.
 
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