In 1982, Ridley Scott brought Philip K. Dick’s story “Do Android’s dream of electric sheep?” to the big screen and created what many consider to be one of the, if not the, greatest sci-fi films of all time. Now, Denis Villeneuve, director of last year’s “Arrival,” is working with a story from the writers of the original film and “Logan” to bring you “Blade Runner 2049.”
In terms of what is necessary to know from the previous film, as long as an audience member knows the basic ideas and characters and their relationships, they’ll be fine.
No story spoilers will be discussed in this review, because not only has the studio avoided story in the trailers, a bizarre thing in modern Hollywood, but also because the film is best experienced knowing as little as possible.
The deep plot and ideas that the film plays with are all reminiscent of the original film, but they manage to also become something new. It truly feels like these new, younger filmmakers are taking inspiration from the original film more than making a sequel to it.
The world of “Blade Runner 2049” looks exceptional. Denis’s vision of the future is interesting, as it isn’t a vision of the future we think of now, but a vision of the future we thought of in 1982. Therefore, things look a little dirtier, grimier, but the technology also feels that much better. Like people really poured their hearts and souls into creating the technology we see in the film.
Thirteen-time Academy Award nominee Cinematographer Roger Deakins (“The Shawshank Redemption,” “Fargo,” “Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?”) brings a stunning vision of the year 2049 to the screen. Sweeping vistas has a wonderfully gritty yet optimistic feeling to them. The film also utilizes color excellently, leading to a rich science fiction world that stands confidently next to Ridley Scott’s original.
Ryan Gosling is excellent, delivering what is easily one of the best performances of his career. Harrison Ford is here as well, reprising his role from the first film. He brings aging wisdom to his role, feeling much older and more passive than when he returned to the role of Han Solo.
The supporting cast also deserves praise, with Jared Leto, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis and Ana de Armas especially, all pulling excellent performances. However, Sylvia Hoeks more than anyone deserves to be recognized for an absolutely brutal and magnetizing performance. Carla Juri, although on screen the least, also manages to leave an impression.
And that’s the film’s biggest strength. It leaves an impression. Like the original, it asks a lot of questions and answers some. But it isn’t concerned with answering all the questions. It also isn’t concerned with halfhearted fan service or callbacks. Scott’s vision of 2049 is gritty and retrofitted, while Denis’s takes inspiration but is more sexual in nature, showing the ways that humans use the replicants without being ‘in your face’ about it.
"Blade Runner 2049" is a two-hour-and-forty-three-minute film, and it feels it. Contrary to most modern day films though, it doesn’t feel it like a two-hour film, it feels like a two-and-a-half-hour film. It feels as long as it is, and that’s thanks to Denis’s use to justification. It justifies the moments that are on screen by always doing one of two things; fleshing out the world, or fleshing out the characters.
The film's best quality is that it doesn’t seek to retell the previous film’s events. It wants to add to them in a way that feels organic and necessary. By the time the film is done, it feels like something that deserves to exist. It doesn’t exist as just an okay sequel or a could-have-been-better sequel. It shows itself to be a necessary story.
“Blade Runner 2049” is one of the best films of the year. An engaging and engrossing story-line is complimented by excellent cinematography and musical score, top tier performances from even the smallest of the cast, and a story that never lets the audience get comfortable.
Even in the third act, things are being revealed and explained that change the way the entire plot has to be examined. It refuses to let the audience simply sit back and watch a movie. Because “Blade Runner 2049” isn’t a movie. It is a film. 5/5
