Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Nbfc — 11 Jan 2018

I love the original Blade Runner, it's one of my personal favorite films.

I was excited that Denis Villeneuve was directing this and not the notoriously hit-or-miss Ridley Scott. Villeneuve always had a great sweeping visual eye, which wasI love the original Blade Runner, it's one of my personal favorite films.

I was excited that Denis Villeneuve was directing this and not the notoriously hit-or-miss Ridley Scott.

Villeneuve always had a great sweeping visual eye, which was showcased in his previous sci-fi outing Arrival and that quality continues to be on display in this sequel. Right off the bat it feels like you are transported back into the rainy, dreary and mysterious world that Scott first introduced to audiences back in 1982.

Adjusted for inflation, this sequel has more than twice the budget of the original and not a single dime was wasted as far as the visuals are concerned. Everything from the rainy LA streets, to Joe’s (Gosling) apartment, to Wallace’s (Leto) baroque-style lair, to the almost apocalyptic junkyard and the eerie abandoned Las Vegas look absolutely gorgeous. This is by far one of the most beautiful-looking movies to have come out all year.

The storyline (conceived by original BR writer Hampton Fancher) also consists of a few intriguing ideas that are prime ready for a hard science-fiction affair such as this.

Despite what the trailers may have you believe, this is not an action film but an atmospheric methodically paced piece of philosophical examination (which is keeping true to the style of the original). Having said that, there is a particularly great un-conventional action set-piece in the third act involving a fight scene on a beach while a downed flying car is being washed away by the heavy tide.

While there are some great ideas, scenes and brilliant visuals; I still can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed.

I think it comes down to three issues:

1. The score, provided this time by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch, is very underwhelming. Now I like the work of Hans Zimmer (even if I admit he is over-exposed) and absolutely loved his work on this year’s Dunkirk but the dark drum-heavy ambience he provides to accompany Villeneuve visuals is lacking the sheer adventure and memorable cues of Vangelis.

2. The the pacing to feel rather baggy.

Now the original movie had a slow methodical pace too but it was also tight at two hours and focused on a handful of characters. The whole affair has a very Tarkovsky-like pacing to it, and I personally can't stand how slow Tarkovsky paces his films.

The storyline just feels bloated.

BB 2049 nearly clocks in at three hours but outside of Joe, Joi and Luv (Hoeks), all the other characters are given all-too brief screen time in order to make an impact. Wallace, the Steve Jobs-like main villain, is only in the movie for two scenes and Deckard (Ford) doesn’t comes into the narrative until 3/4 of the way through.

Most of the movie is taken up by Joe’s search for Deckard, which goes by way too slow and most of the third act is spent setting up for possible sequels/spin-offs. BR 2049 may have taken measures to expand the universe only hinted at in the original, but it was done in a way that felt banal and removed from the personal more soulful approach in Scott’s masterpiece.

3. The acting.

Dave Bautista (aka. Drax the Destroyer) impresses in his one scene with Ryan Gosling, showcasing an emotional range previously unseen. There is also an intense and thought-provoking dialogue exchange between Deckard and Wallace that showcases Harrison Ford sincerely ACTING instead of just growling his lines like he has been doing too often as of late.

But on the whole, the acting quality is okay but un-spectacular. Ryan Gosling is essentially giving the same stoic performance he did in Drive and I couldn’t get past Armas’ perplexing accent. Robin Wright gives another under-whelming performance like she did in this year’s Wonder Woman and Jared Leto is in the movie far too little to make an impression. Probably the most baffling performance was Lennie James, who literally disappears from the movie after just three minutes of screen time!!

I wish I can give more praise and I am aware that this movie has been getting great write-ups from critics and audiences alike, so I do seem to be in a minority here. There is plenty to like but at the end of the day watching BR 2049 was the equivalent to walking through an expensive art gallery.

It all looks gorgeous but not much in the way of emotional impact.