Blade Runner 2049 Review

     More than any other decade, the 2010s have been the decade of revivals in pop-culture. Whether it is a film from the 70s, a game from the 80s or a show from the 90s, revivals have been more prevalent in our culture than ever. In some way it can bring back the franchise to new audiences in a way that’s respectful to its original source material or sometimes they can pander too much either an their original audience or a new audience to the point where the creators of the revival seem to forget what the original was all about. Occasionally though there’s a revival that comes that not only ends up being the most respectable to its source material but also one of the most incredible unique experiences of watching a film that is a work from masterful artists. Blade Runner 2049 ends up as that film, not since 2015’s Creed has a revival film on a screenplay, aesthetic and filmmaking level excels at being a masterpiece.

The plot of Blade Runner 2049 has been mostly kept under wrapped, with most trailers basically telling the audience the basics. Agent K played by Ryan Gosling is on a mission regarding replicants and eventually ends up dealing with Harrison Ford’s character Deckard along the way, not much has been revealed outside of that and for good reason. This film gives audiences a chance to experience a story first hand with many surprises and twists along the way. There isn’t a clear moment where the audience feels like something is going to happen automatically because of something they’ve seen in the trailer, which is a moment that some, may feel is lacking in modern Hollywood films. More so than this plot being intriguing due to the surprise factor is also how it serves as a successor to Blade Runner. It doesn’t feel like a simple cash grab as 2049 manages to have just as much philosophy and intellect to it as the original film did. It still uses inventive ways of discussing idea of being human which is what the original was so well known for but adds some new concepts to the table of that idea making this film even more refreshing. Even when some moments may feel like it’s an easy route to create a revival in regards to story, the film cleverly turns it into a way while what may feel like a cliché seen in something like Star Wars the Force Awakens, can be seen as something much more clever than that. It does what a revival needs to do, make something true to its original source while also making it refreshing and exciting.

 Another aspect where Denis Villeneuve’s sequel exceeds is in the performances and characters of his actors. Ryan Gosling’s Officer K is one of the most complex and interesting characters in the Blade Runner universe. Gosling’s character has a lot of depth to his backstory but even personality wise with his sympathetic nature and his rebel attitude that makes him an over-all well rounded character that’s just as interesting to watch as much to learn about. Harrison Ford, while coming in late in the film also does an excellent job as Deckard. It could have been easy to see him phoning it in but he’s still the memorable Deckard that we knew from the original. Another element that adds to this character is how certain clichés that might have appeared in other revivals Ford has appeared have been also revitalized to be more refreshing. Not to mention, any ambiguity that has been made for his character in the original still remains with the film still encompassing the vague ideas of his characters in a way that will satisfy anyone on either side of the spectrum of their thoughts on Deckard in the original. The other actors and actresses do their job perfectly being authentic to the world of Blade Runner, nothing too over the top or under acting here. Dave Bautista and Jared Leto in particular, although not in the film as much as the marketing might have indicated, are also excellent in their respective roles. Leto in particular has some of the best moments in the entire film from both an acting and even visual level as some of his scenes have been ingrained in my skull as memorizing.

   One cannot talk about Blade Runner 2049’s superb quality without taking into account the directing of this film. Denis Villeneuve  has not only done the impossible by making what many would argue to be a sequel that could have never been made and made it a contempt film, his directing might even top the directing of Ridley Scott’s original. In terms of music, cinematography and over-all visual and audio presenting 2049 is near perfect. The sound design still retains that futuristic immersion and to have an excellence score by Hans Zimmer to boost. Zimmer’s score is enthralling giving some new musical nods that are a treat to the ears and also respecting the original classic score of the 1982 film. When comes to the effects, everything is top notch, with not only some excellence use of both CGI and Practical effects, but also some effects that are some of the most unique effects seen in recent memory in a big budget spectacle like this. As beautifully as the work the effects are, they are nothing compared to Roger Deakins amazing cinematography. The shots composed by Deakins are simply jaw dropping and gorgeous to look at, one shot in particular dealing with Jared Leto’s character that might be one of the most striking shots ever seen in a modern day blockbuster. With the help of this talent behind the film and all in charge by a director with possible the best track record in recent memory, 2049 is a master work of directing. 

     As stated earlier, Blade Runner 2049 is one of those rare films that not only excels at accomplishing what it sets out to do, but also manages to be a sequel and revival that surpasses elements of the first film but also other revival of older properties in the mix. It is a breath taking work of art from Villeneuve that everyone who adored the first Blade Runner or has a passion for film needs to see as soon as possible. It is every bit as inspiring and beautiful as it is genius.