The original Blade Runner released to theaters in 1982 and was met with a middling response, enough so that it was considered both a financial and critical failure. The film did garner a small cult following and there were rumors of a director’s cut that enhanced the film. Over the next ten years the film started to grow in popularity and Ridley Scott released the long rumored cut. This new version of the film drew even more attention and began to be talked about with great admiration as the deep themes of existence and the human condition were explored further, and the mystery of the ambiguity of its main character captured many people in long conversations of “human or replicant.” It grew again in popularity and began to impress on a new generation of filmmakers; it influenced a whole look of a future dystopia. But like many artists, Scott was still not completely pleased with this version and fifteen years after the release of his “Director’s Cut,” put together the definitive version of the film simply named “The Final Cut.” It is in this version that Blade Runner became known to be a sci-fi masterpiece and a beloved film for many movie fans. When the sequel to Blade Runner was announced, there was a lot riding on the film in stacking up to the original, considering the state of Hollywood today and their bastardizing of previous decades’ films in the hopes of making a quick buck. However, Ridley Scott now in the Executive Producer role, brought together a team that would continue not only the story of the first, but further the ideas and conversations that were at the heart of Blade Runner. Blade Runner 2049 is not only a worthy successor to the original, but grows the legacy of this epic, highbrow tale. While Blade Runner 2049 is filled with gorgeous shots crafted by cinematographer Roger Deakins and shot by the talented and highly sought Denis Villeneuve, the performances by its small cast of actors is what resonates the most upon leaving the theater. Ryan Gosling’s turn as Agent K is one of the greatest performances of emotion bubbling under the surface and quiet observation possibly ever seen. It shouldn’t be surprising that this will be considered a career defining performance that depends more on expression; a fact conceded by the limited amount of dialogue that he engages. The standout performer in Blade Runner 2049 is the Cuban born Ana De Armas. Armas might be the film’s most human character despite her transparent form. Her loving connection to K, is a connection she also shares with us because we view the story through K’s eyes. This makes for a touching and palpable relationship with one of the year’s best supporting characters instantaneously. Diving into the depths and the complexity of Joi and her role in the film would all but spoil most of the film and I don’t want to ruin what would be a captivating first hand experience with these characters and the dynamics they share. Rounding out the cast of characters is Sylvia Hoeks and Jared Leto as the film’s antagonists, Luv and Niander Wallace. The CEO and architect of Wallace Corporation and his multi-job assistant are used sparingly in the film, though the few scenes that feature them do a well enough job of keeping their presence felt throughout. Robin Wright as Lieutenant Joshi brings the hardened, grizzled aspect to the film and keeps Agent K’s mentality in check. Much like she did in her minor role in Wonder Woman, Wright is a huge influence on our lead character and her influence still shows in our hero as they progress through the story. Lastly, Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard and turns in what is certainly his best performance in years. So much so, that talks have begun circling in spaces around the web of a possible “Best Supporting Actor” nomination during next year’s Academy Awards. While I personally wouldn’t go that far, Ford becomes the emotional anchor to the film as he brings a sense of warmth and familiarity to the film. This is director Denis Villeneuve’s (Sicario, Arrival) first attempt at a film that is a part of a pre-existing franchise. The original Blade Runner is one of Villeneuve’s favorite films and signing on to direct the sequel must have been a huge honor and a terrifying task. Working his magic like Villeneuve usually does, he has led the crafting one of the finest tuned pieces of filmmaking this side of the 2000s has seen. Villeneuve teams up with 13 time Oscar nominated Cinematographer Roger Deakins for a third time, and the German-born composer Hans Zimmer for the first time to try and make the sights and sounds of Los Angeles 2049 come to life. Fortunately for us this trio here is able to compose striking frames, magnetic sound composition, and partnering that with knee buckling production design makes Blade Runner 2049 a comfortably numb experience. As we embark on this journey, Villeneuve is able to use the camera to convey a longing for purpose, self-discovery, and the human condition. It’s tightly focused frames that linger on characters and the backdrop of a dystopian Los Angeles that Villeneuve uses to his advantage in making us connect with the world because it evokes the thirst for existence that the characters are feeling. Deakins’ cinematography is other worldly as he captures the large and eye popping corporation buildings that cast a shadow over the lowly beings that walk the paths of the drenched Los Angeles area. Some buildings of the past still stand as a reminder of what’s come before, being used as a visual aid to remember that without the past we wouldn't have come as far as we have, and using that to inspire us to achieve bigger and better things. Villeneuve’s ability to emit a feeling of claustrophobia is something he has brought to the table in each of his films thus far. His use of concentrated camerawork and small spaces constructs scenes that are more personal, and the dialogue that is exchanged between performers adds an inescapable intensity to every scenario. The use of lighting here is one of the biggest technical standouts in the film, and Villeneuve’s casting of light or shadow upon the actors is a fascinating move. Deakins highlights this choice by enhancing the effects of light and shadow through his sharp shot composition and using that almost as if it were music because of the harmony it may bring, or the darkness that has befallen the characters. What may be flying under the radar during the experience with the film is how the sound design is utilized in small places. There is a stillness in many of those scenes that contain brief moments of the scuffing of a boot or a faucet suffering from pressure problems. It gives the world a sense of being in a dystopian wasteland and the occasional sounds we hear are that of the sparse wildlife that inhabit it. The general consensus seems to agree that Zimmer’s score for the film is one of the weakest points because of the overbearing nature of the music. While the film occasionally suffers from a score that may seem like it’s outdistancing the rest of the film, it still feels like it belongs in that world. It’s a score that is reminiscent of the original Vangelis score that may give the fans a feeling of nostalgia of the synth driven scores from many 80’s sci-fi films. One of the biggest causes for concern heading into Blade Runner 2049 was the imposing runtime of 164 minutes. As the predecessor ran 114 minutes and being able to do and say so much during that time, many believed that an extra hour of the neo-noir realm of Blade Runner may take it’s toll and become a tedious effort rather than an exhilarating one. The film never wastes a single moment and Villeneuve constantly grabs our attention with each frame that moves before our very eyes. The way the plot unfolds keeps you enthralled and locked in with the narrative as it has you thirsting for the next bit of information that is yet to be revealed. This makes the runtime fly by with ease and when the film concludes it feels as if you’ve lived an entire lifetime during that duration. There are minor concerns heading into the film and very little amount of errors that may only end up arising based on your personal tastes. As mentioned previously, Blade Runner 2049 is a fine tuned effort with minimal room for error and Warner Bros., Denis Villeneuve, and the entire production showed up each and every day to deliver one of the most complete science-fiction films this century has seen. Blade Runner 2049, as you have read, is one of the best films of the year. It’s a powerful and emotional journey through the life of the eyes of another. A film that has the ability to transport us into a realm that looks significantly different from the one we know, but feels eerily familiar because it’s a path we’re trending towards as a society. Blade Runner 2049, like all of Villeneuve’s filmography defies genre expectations, and gives each moment the right amount of care and attention it deserves to showcase the human spirit triumphing in the darkest of times. Whether it’s the figurative representation of purgatory saving a child of God from the grasps of the figurative representation of the devil, or a daughter discovering that her mathematical prowess can’t help her solve all of life’s problems, Denis Villeneuve understands what it takes to make his films resonate with audiences on a personal level. We are so immersed in the worlds and stories he creates because he takes us on a journey while holding our hand. Not in a way where he points at everything we see and explains it, but he allows the worlds and characters he builds to speak for themselves. That is why his entire filmography has such a unique, powerful, and inspiring voice not only to the medium, but to life itself. Blade Runner 2049 deals a lot with themes like “existence” and “humanity”, and Villeneuve chooses to explore that here in such a profound and poignant way. Each scene feels imperative, and each character decision, action, or reaction holds so much emotional weight because we are given a reason to care for their journey. Earlier I briefly mentioned “The Human Condition”, and in my personal opinion that is what Villeneuve prioritized in the underlying theme of the narrative. The Human Condition is, “the characteristics, key events, and situations which compose the essentials of human existence, such as birth, growth, emotionality, aspiration, conflict, and mortality.” All of which are put on display in Blade Runner 2049. Not just for a single character, but multiple. Characters who experience birth, who grow up, who go through and begin to feel emotions and how they react to a stimulus. Then comes aspiration where characters are hopeful or ambitious in achieving a goal, and following that is their conflict along the way of attempting to achieve that goal, and finally having to confront mortality in the end. Blade Runner 2049 is a beautifully composed, constructed, and epic science-fiction odyssey of a lifetime that has a personal and human touch lying underneath it’s ravishing canvas of visuals. Blade Runner 2049 gets a 98/100
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