Benicio del Toro delivers a more compelling portrayal of Pablo Escobar compared to Javier Bardem, mirroring how Escobar: Paradise Lost surpasses Loving Pablo – though the latter isn’t entirely without merit. Departing from Bardem's performance, del Toro performs his lines in Spanish, except when interacting with Nick Brady (Josh Hutcherson), which is fitting given Nick’s Canadian background. Furthermore, a significant portion of the cast in Paradise Lost comprises Latino or Spanish actors, and their dialogue reflects that linguistic heritage. The film, however, unfolds similarly to The Last King of Scotland, exhibiting a comparable degree of adherence to actual events. Nick travels to Colombia for surfing and instantly connects with María (Claudia Traissac). Unbeknownst to him, María is Escobar’s niece, held in a familial-like position. Following predictable plot points, the naive foreigner finds himself drawn in by the outwardly charming and magnetic sociopath, quickly realizing that nothing comes without a price. Del Toro possesses an innate ability to project charm, charisma, and sociopathy with ease, and his presence isn't required for every scene to dominate the film. Conversely, even if he were present throughout, it wouldn’t be enough to redeem the movie because the narrative doesn't center on him; Escobar essentially looms over the proceedings rather than fully existing within them, like a predator circling its prey. Nick and María feel as artificial as the character portrayed by James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland. Their fates elicit little emotional investment, just as writer/director Andrea Di Stefano seems indifferent to Escobar’s fate, who manages to escape justice both literally and figuratively.

Source on TMDB