Playing with the way an audience experiences a story can be a powerful way to maximise the impact you want to hit them with. Len Deighton's books often have a character who's epic journey is revealed to be something ultimately meaningless or diversionary and No Country For Old Men is often thought of as the Tommy Lee Jones character's coming to terms with his disconnection to the modern and changing world, despite him hardly featuring in the movie. Sicario takes this in another direction where we, the audience, experience the story from the perspective of a character that is kept on the sidelines, Kate (Emily Blunt), as it is revealed that the driver of the story is Alejandro's (Benicio Del Toro) revenge plot. But framing the audience's experience in this way still results in a compelling movie with deep character complexity and development as they are exposed to the horrors of the world they are entering, often in ways that are more impactful as we are experiencing these for the first time with a character that is doing the same. This video goes into some details about how this works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kOfDh5zF4c
Screenwriting : When a main character isn't the story's protagonist: Sicario (!!!SPOILERS!!!) by Ewan Dunbar
Works at Red Stag Entertainment ♦ Director of Development, Producer, Distributor
5 months ago
When a main character isn't the story's protagonist: Sicario (!!!SPOILERS!!!)
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1 person likes this
Hey Ewan Dunbar - I clicked on the link and it says the video isn't available anymore. Even so, I LOVE Sicario for so many different reasons including the one you mention. Then there's the performances. Towards the end when Del Toro's character is in her apartment, I can't tell if he's warning her because he cares or because he wants her off his back.
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I've been having trouble outlining a feature script, and this might be the answer, Ewan Dunbar. Thanks for sharing!
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The link is working now Ewan Dunbar. Thanks for sharing!
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Wonderful insight need Apple note this!
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for Sicario, the director & actors changed and rewrote the in the nose plot & dialogue. I dont think screenwriter Sheridan was involved on-set or told of changes. One early production script is online, it begins and ends with Alejandro's Voice Over narration, he is the hero of the story from page 1, he doesnt murder the Cop or Druglord's wife & kids.
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Kate's perspective on how the world works changes the most in Sicario. There's no doubt she's the protagonist.