“Those who hunt them are still called…Blade Runners”
Release Date: October 6th, 2017
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
MPAA: R
Recommended Screen Viewing: IMAX
**Spoiler Free (As Always)**
A good sequel to me builds on the ideas of the original movie and introduces and builds new ideas and builds upon the world of which its set it. If you just rehash everything from the original film, then your film isn’t good. I’m happy to say my criteria for a good sequel was far exceeded with Blade Runner 2049.
I will also say this – If you didn’t like the original Blade Runner, this won’t be for you (but that goes with any sequel). This movie wasn’t made for newcomers to jump right in, if you’re interested in seeing Blade Runner 2049, see the original Blade Runner first, the Final Cut is a great place to start.
I love the original Blade Runner, it is one of my favourite science fiction movies of all time, I love the atmosphere, the characters, the music and especially the world. When I learned about a sequel I was hesitant at first. I didn’t think that movie needed a sequel and it was fine the way it is. In comes one of my favourite directors working today – Denis Villeneuve and my I knew that this movie was in the right hands… turns out I was right.
Blade Runner 2049 is a Science Fiction/Thriller movie about a young Blade Runner’s discovery of a long-buried secret that leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who’s been missing for 30 years.
Blade Runner 2049 is directed by one of the best directors working in Hollywood today, Denis Villeneuve. Denis Villeneuve’s filmography consists of Polytechnique (2009), Prisoners (2013), Enemy (2013), Sicario (2016), and Arrival (2016). Denis Villeneuve is truly a master of his art. I have enjoyed all of his films immensely and have now tried to track down his other films, I’d like to see Incendies (2010), that will be the next film I try to track down. Villeneuve is just a really well educated, and talented film maker who really leaves his mark on the film, who can get these excellent performances out of his actors, who isn’t afraid to take a risk for his art. The atmosphere and the characters felt extremely Blade Runner esque, but there was enough nuance and enough subtle differences and nods to the original to make this film just excellent. Congratulations Villeneuve, you have successfully done it.
The cinematography for Blade Runner 2049 was breath-taking, and it would have not been the same had anyone else done it. The cinematographer in question is the man, the myth, the legend – Roger Deakins. Deakin’s filmography is extensive, and theres a reason he’s so good at what he does. His filmography consists of Barton Fink (1991), The Secret Garden (1993), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Dead Man Walking (1995), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), The Siege (1998), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Jarhead (2005), No Country Of Old Men (2007), The Assassination Of Jesse Jams by The Coward Robert Ford (2007), The Reader (2008), Revolutionary Road (2007), True Grit (2010), In Time (2011), Skyfall (2012), Prisoners (2013), Sicario (2015), and Hail, Caesar! (2016). He too is an absolute master of his craft. From the amazing fly over shots, to the establishing shots, to showing you small details to these expansive breath taking landscapes. His eye for these details is second to none, and theres a reason why he’s done so many great films. When you have the mix of Deakins and Villeneuve working together, what you get is film magic, and that magic is Blade Runner 2049.
The screenplay was written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. Hampton Fancher’s writing filmography consists of Blade Runner (1982). Michael Green’s filmography consists of Logan (2017). I thought the screenplay was well written, definitely a fresh take on the Blade Runner universe when you have the original screenwriter and this up-and-coming screenwriter collaborating to make something special. I thought they wrote some very intriguing scenes that really complemented the great directing and cinematography.
The soundtrack to Blade Runner deserves some recognition. It was done by my man Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch. Hans Zimmer has done NUMEROUS soundtracks to list them all we would be here all day, but a selected few of his credits are The Rock (1996), Gladiator (2000), The Ring (2002), The Pacific {Mini Series} (2010), Inception (2011), Interstellar (2014), Hidden Figures (2016) and Dunkirk (2017). Benjamin Wallfisch’s credits are Lights Out (2016), A Cure For Wellness (2016), Hidden Figures (2016), Annabelle: Creation (2016), Dunkirk (2017), and It (2017). A stand out feature of the original Blade Runner (1982) was the fantastic soundtrack done by Vangelis. It was a really outstanding soundtrack that set the mood, and a lot of people were confused as to why Vangelis didn’t compose the music to Blade Runner 2049. I am happy to say that the soundtrack that Zimmer and Wallfisch came out with is different enough to be original, but definitely feels like an homage to Vangelis’ excellent score. I immediately downloaded the soundtrack after the credits rolled and am excited to listen to it more.
Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling as Officer K, Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, Ana de Armas as Joi, and Jared Leto as Niander Wallace.
Ryan Gosling’s Filmography consists of Remember The Titans (2000), The Notebook (2004), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Fracture (2007), Drive (2011), Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011), The Ides Of March (2011), The Place Beyond The Pines (2012), The Nice Guys (2016), and La La Land (2016). I really like Ryan Gosling, I always have. I thought he was great in the role as K. It was really interesting to see this different role from him, it reminded me a lot of his role in Drive (2011). Dark, gritty and effective, he was fantastic in Blade Runner 2049.
Harrison Ford’s Filmography consists of a lot of iconic roles which include Star Wars (1977), Apocalypse Now (1979), Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Striks Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Blade Runner (1982), Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Fugitive (1993), Air Force One (1997), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), Expendables 3 (2014), and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). I love Harrison Ford, I love seeing him act, its always a lot of fun. Even when he phones it in for some of his more recent roles, you can’t help but to enjoy him on screen. Him returning as Rick Deckard was no different, I liked seeing him back in that role, and chewing up the screen.
Ana de Armas’ filmography consists of War Dogs (2016). I am not too familiar with her acting style, but I thought she was great in this movie. She had great chemistry with Ryan Gosling. Definitely was a neat aspect to the film.
Jared Leto’s filmography consists of Fight Club (1999), Requiem For A Dream (2000), American Psycho (2000), Panic Room (2002), Lord Of War (2005), Mr. Nobody (2009), and Dallas Buyers Club (2013). Jared Leto I’ve come to really enjoy, except Suicide Squad (2016) which was a piece of trash and his Joker wasn’t all that good. I thought he made up for it well in Blade Runner 2049, he played a very interesting, unnerving and creepy role and it was very fitting for him.
The acting in this movie was great all around, great performances by everyone.
The technology and ideas in this movie around the technology blew my mind, I loved the world that was created around it and included so much of it. I don’t want to ruin anything from that aspect.
This is a longer review, but there are no spoilers, this is a film that begs to be watched for yourself, I thought it was a near perfect sequel as per my criteria that I listed off at the beginning of this review.
Blade Runner 2049 receives a 5/5 from me, Move over Stronger and Dunkirk, I have a new favourite movie of 2017.
I can’t wait to return to the theatre to watch this again, and get the
blu ray day one!
Until Next Time
-Andrew