Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Blade Runner 2049 - 9 stars out of 10

Blade Runner 2049 - 9 stars out of 10

“Blade Runner 2049” is the type of film that makes you sit back and say “Wow.”  It is a visual marvel from its holographic AI character “Joi” to its vividly bleak dystopian setting, offering an even grittier view of the future than the original.  Director Denis Villenueve has created a spiritual successor to Ridley Scott’s iconic “Blade Runner” that honors and expands the universe that was first revealed 35 years ago.  I was so awestruck by this film that I had to watch it a second time the next day.  Roger Deakins’ cinematography has created one of the most beautifully shot films of all time and I believe that he will finally win his Oscar.  So many of these shots became immediately iconic, all culminating in the haunting Joi love sequence that will spin your mind in circles. 

[Pictured: The Joi love scene took over a year to pull off and was shot using mostly practical effects, layering video footage of two actresses on top of each other through double exposure.]

Ryan Gosling does a good job of walking the line between human and machine as a Replicant and it is magic to see Harrison Ford reprise his role of Rick Deckard, but this film is all about the girl power.  It is interesting that the film was criticized for its portrayal of women in the future when its three most dynamic characters are female.  Robin Wright has been infallible over the past few years and continues her streak of excellent roles as Lieutenant Joshi.  She gives her character multiple layers with a hard exterior that is complimented by her soft spot for K.  Ana de Armas is completely endearing as Joi, the holographic AI character and voice of reason throughout the film.  Her character is designed to keep us wondering if her love for Gosling comes from her heart or from her computer programming.  This complex existence gives her character the most depth in the film, even though she is 2-dimensional.  Meanwhile, Sylvia Hoeks is the polar opposite of Luv: cool, composed, and heartless.  The scene where she is reclining in the white leather chair controlling drones as she has her nails done is already iconic.  You will never forget the intensity of her underwater scene, either.

[Pictured: This shot is about as “Ridley Scott” as you can get.]

For all of the amazing aspects of this film, it is simply too long.  This is properly reflected in its Oscar nominations: the film’s Production Design, Visual Effects, Cinematography may be the best that we’ve seen since “Mad Max: Fury Road” (plus nominations in the Sound categories), but it fell short of categories like Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing due to its 160-minute runtime.  I would love to see the 2-hour version of this movie.  It would’ve allowed plenty of time to tell its fascinating Replicant story, show several action sequences, explore post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, and fill its world with Ridley Scott-esque imagery without dragging on.  I could’ve also done without all of the adult content but I understand that it is a part of Villenueve’s image for the gritty future.  It’s actually less abrasive than a lot of R-rated films but be aware that you may want to cover your eyes at several points.  Despite a few shortcomings, “Blade Runner 2049” is an unforgettable film that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

[Pictured: “Blade Runner 2049” has a style of its own that sets it apart from any other film, including the original “Blade Runner”]

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