Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Felix M — 13 Nov 2017

**Slight disclaimer: My "reviews," are really just gut reactions that I can remember and jot down. Forgive the sloppy styling, grammatical errors and general upheaval of my writing. While I do try and write something cohesive and obeying film review etiquette, mostly I say fuck that. What I love about film is going with the surge of emotions I feel, especially during a particularly bad film or a great film. I try and likely fail to bring that into writing but hey, I warned you. You can stop now and I'll never know.

Blade Runner 2049.

Watched on 10/5/17 and 10/14/17.

No spoilers.

Every once in awhile, a film comes along and leaves a scar on the face of cinema. Ridley Scott's Blade Runner contorted the definition of the sci-fi film genre. Blending themes of mystery, police drama, dystopian futures, obsolescence, action and most importantly love.This film has inspired many filmmakers and it's blood can be found pulsing through many films veins. A relatively quiet, reserved, deliberately paced yet harrowing masterpiece. 35 years later Denis Villeneuve's, Blade Runner 2049, has not only enhanced it's predecessor and expanded the film genre but sets a new standard for modern storytelling. The story is complex and has rich, expansive history but it is told simply and elegantly. A film primarily from an android's point of view, ("replicants," they are defined in this franchise"), has never felt so human.

Plot synopsis are my least favorite things to write, and trying to come up with a catchy way to explain Blade Runner 2049, seems pointless. As simply as I can put it, this is a film asking what it means to be alive. Not exactly an easy question to answer. But, perhaps my favorite aspect of this film is that it doesn't try to resolve it. Villeneuve and crew and cast do not give us softball, crowd pleasing scenes and low hanging answers, yet the film does not self indulgently blur the lines. It doesn't try to fuck with you, it just presents itself. This film is ripe for discussion, debate, and repeated viewings. Not because we will find the answer but rather we find the question is just too fascinating.

This film made me feel insignificant in scope, with a future that doesn't seem so far off. Advertisements 20 feet tall, dance in the street battling for our attention, the sun is all but faded, rain constantly pours down, snow falls, a shower is a single quick, painful, blast of water, farm lands are now covered tents that solely attempt to grow protein sources, art is obsolete, artists are little more than factoids, it's just high rise after high rise, cramming humans and replicants into as little a space as possible. Blade Runner 2049, isn't on a high horse, spewing some political agenda, it just makes sense, this is the direction we are heading. It's nearly impossible as an audience member to realistically avoid it.

It's frightening, it's absolutely terrifying. All politics, religion, etc. aside this is the way the world is becoming. Disassociation with other humans, is leading to increased obsession with technology. Even after my own breakups, failed relationships and more recently Tinder debacles, I've often thought as film as my true love. Feeling disconnected and somewhat alienated from my own generation. The longing for true human connection is a lifelong battle, many never win.

Blade Runner 2049, captures this emotion, this fear, and makes an entire world from it.

I've seen the film twice, the 1st time the major realization was this was not a colossal train wreck. I'll be the first to admit, I am jaded, people. In a galaxy of sequels, remakes, reboots, and "cinematic-universe-franchises," I am worn out and bitter. I am tired of all of it. Even with a director as talented and proven as Denis Villeneuve, I was not going to let myself get excited just to be let down. It was after I processed the blisteringly tense opening scene, I understood 2049, was it's own film. This movie, wasn't going to take any prisoners or pull any punches I knew I would invest myself in paying attention and critically thinking about the plot. This honestly lessened my enjoyment of the film, rather than experience it, I was trying to solve it. I walked out of the theater thinking "wow, that was unique and really good." Masterpiece did not enter my thought space at the time. Yet I have to admit, I saw a double feature of Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 on a late Thursday night, single showing. I also have to admit, I was exhausted going into the 8pm showing. I didn't come out til nearly 2am. I knew immediately upon leaving, I needed to see this again.

The 2nd viewing is where I truly experienced this film and was floored by it's impact. I was less focused on me just trying to connect all the dots and much more open to relaxing and just watching. I found I was fully submersed in every single frame this film offered. Each and every second on screen occupied my mind. My job, my income, my stress, my crippling lack of self esteem, all faded away. I was entranced, and the nearly 3 hour runtime blew by. Rather than assembling the plot, I found I was thinking about the themes of the film, the message, the scenery, the score actually hit me this time around. It was an absolutely, incredible, experience.

I did want to discuss the score. It's unconventional to say the least. We expect a Hans Zimmer score to be battered with percussion, operatic chorus, intense stringed sections. What we receive is an industrial, metallic, blaring scream of various sounds. It's minimalistic, yet it's heavy and fierce. The sounds of motorcycles roaring, deep bass, distorted synthesizers. If I hadn't ever heard of Skinny Puppy, Death Grips, or Trent Reznor's deep cuts, I'd be ignorant enough to say 2049's score isn't music at all. But this works, it was crafted for this film, in the universe where art and music are essentially dead, this score is real, this is what we need to hear.

While the score, the environments and sets, the effects are all fantastic, where Villeneuve and crew shine the most is performances. We all know what Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling are capable of. Ford is the kingpin of franchise roles, and is settling into the grizzled vet chapter of his career quite nicely. Gosling is the perfect blend of a dreamy, hunk, yet there is subtle spark of insanity in his face. We see this exponentialized in Drive and The Place Beyond The Pines. I'll admit I am a softie for Gosling, something in the way he acts just sells me I've always thought he was incredibly talented and admired his role choices. I have to say Blade Runner 2049, is without a doubt his best performance. Robin Wright, her performance in House of Cards had her down as one of my favorite performers. She plays a powerful political figure in HoC and she plays a hard nosed, no nonsense, lieutenant in 2049. Her tough as nails, cold, calculated dialogue is delivered with a hint of a vulnerability I only picked up on the 2nd viewing. She is fantastic. Sylvia Hoeks, jeez where do I begin? She is merciless and ruthless, in her quest for power. Jared Leto. I feel like that name typed just like that, says enough. I actually really enjoy Leto, his range of roles and unique style is attractive to me. He delivers as expected. In the right role Leto shines, and 2049 is a perfect cannon for his firepower. He is oily, uncomfortable, reserved and haunting.

Amongst these great performances one tiny role that truly stands out.

A small role can have a huge impact, and this performer fills the screen with his intimidating physical mass yet his personality contrasts that frame as a quiet farmer living in solitude. The scene and performance is further contrasted by shocking, brutal, violence. It wasn't that I don't want to believe in a reality where World Wrestling Entertainment sensation "Batista," can act, I merely was not aware I was already in this actual reality in which Dave Bautista acts extraordinarily well. Just goes to show, stop judging. My little preconceived notions of what people are capable of, are shattered regularly. And this film is a towering reminder of that.

There is a ton more to unpack here, and I will, I fully plan on expanding on my ideas here and watching the film again breaking down scenes and themes and writing about it. But for now, no spoilers,no complete analysis. I just wanted to share my ideas and hopefully inspire more folks to see this great movie.

Blade Runner 2049 shines, not only as a sci-fi film, but as a beacon of light in a time where finding the urge to put on pants, let alone go to a movie theater is actually worth the hustle. This film is not just a great sequel and successor, but an achievement in film. What it lacks in box office revenue (as if we care) it more than makes up for in this beautiful, fantastic, frightening, yet not entirely hopeless, piece of cinema. It's many messages are important and timely for a generation that needs all the help it can get.