One Heat Minute Productions THE DECADE PROJECT: SICARIO (2015) w/ Jordan Harper
Jan 11, 2026
Jordan Harper, an Edgar Award-winning author known for works like 'She Rides Shotgun,' dives deep into the film 'Sicario' and its commentary on American identity and violence. He explores how the film's Juárez sequence reflects American guilt and imperialism, while analyzing Emily Blunt's character as a moral compass amidst brutality. The discussion highlights thematic parallels with 'Apocalypse Now,' the chilling normalization of everyday violence, and the visual storytelling of Roger Deakins, all shedding light on the film's lasting impact today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
America's Imperial Boomerang
- Sicario stages the American fear of accountability for violence abroad as a central theme.
- Jordan Harper argues Juárez scenes dramatize the 'Imperial Boomerang' returning to haunt America.
Matt Graver's Delectable Brutality
- Josh Brolin embodies an unapologetic American imperialism in Matt Graver.
- Jordan Harper and Blake Howard praise Brolin's relish for bypassing law and wielding power.
Kate's Perspective Reveals The Monster
- Emily Blunt's Kate provides necessary distance to reveal the team's brutality.
- Her outsider viewpoint lets viewers see Alejandro and Matt as monsters, not heroes.
