Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Mars C — 22 Dec 2017

A sequel to a 35-year-old sci-fi cult classic was always going to be a hard sell. It's a small miracle that a film like Blade Runner 2049 was even made, the original wasn't exactly a money maker back in 1982, nor did the studios at the time allow the film to stay narratively true to its original vision, hell Ridley Scott didn't even gain control of his own film cut till 2007. So here we are in 2017, with an unlikely sequel on our hands.

Blade Runner 2049 does a great job of expanding on the themes of the original, while still managing to tell its own compelling story. Ryan Gosling plays the stone-faced Officer 'K' in a nuanced performance, arguably his best performance since Half Nelson. The supporting cast is standout throughout, bringing the world of Blade Runner 2049 to life, and let me say this, what a gorgeous world it is, frightening and awe-inspiring. Roger Deakins is at the top of his game here, the cinematography is absolutely jaw-dropping, which is not surprising coming from a man who has been nominated 13 times for an Academy Award.

The languid pacing of the film lends itself perfectly, even though the runtime is 2:45 hours I didn't find myself for one moment disinterested or disengaged, which is quite a feat for a film of this length. The combination of visual flair, sonic mastery, and expertly crafted script make Blade Runner 2049 easily one of my top 10 movies of all time. Please, please please, I implore you, go watch this movie, on the biggest screen possible, experience this film.