Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Mikaela T — 13 Oct 2017

Bladerunner 2049 is a masterpiece. Which is not a word I throw around often when it comes to movies and an extreme rarity on the first viewing. The story is great, visuals stunning and the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful. Despite being a direct sequel to the cult classic original; (which I personally didn't like other than a few of its moments) this film stands on it's own legs delivering a stand alone story that delves deep into the world's mythology and asks questions about what it means to be human.

I can understand why its unique style (which takes queues from the first Bladerunner) might not be to everybody's taste and thus is reducing the box office success. The pacing is unrelentingly slow, there is no perceptible build up to a climactic third act and the action isn't romanticised and focused on like other Hollywood blockbusters. That's where this thing of beauty is born though. Despite the pacing, not once did I lose attention. Every frame, every shot and every moment was crafted like a statue out of marble. Every single scene was meticulously planned and every sound and musical note timed to perfection. All a result of Denis Villeneuve continued brilliance in directing.

Strong performances from its plethora of great actors kept you in the moment. Ryan Gosling carried the film well with his portrayal of the soulless synthetic and Harrison Ford showed his best acting abilities that I have seen in a long time. Robin Right, Jared Leto and even Dave Bautista's small role were pulled off excellently too.

There's not much that you can say about this film that won't in some way give spoilers but I implore anybody with the opportunity, to see this film IMAX while they can. It's a rare film that might only come once in a generation and is a must see in the best format available.

10/10 Masterpiece.