Logan Sork Film Reviews
Blade Runner 2049
Though the original Blade Runner was a box office failure upon initial release, it’s influence on pop culture and science fiction films has been noticeable I the years following its initial failure. It is now regarded as one of the great (if flawed) science fiction masterpieces. With such interest in the film, people ever wondered if we would get a sequel to explore the world of Blade Runner even more. In 2017, we got our wish in the form of Blade Runner 2049, released 35 years after the original. In my honest opinion, this is one of those sequels where it manages to improve upon the original, while also standing on its own. With the same refined breathtaking elements of the original, the film adds a main character with much more heart and emotion while not skipping on the themes that made the first one so iconic.
Blade Runner 2049 is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Ryan Gosling as K, a replicant Blade Runner. The film opens with K’s investigation into a rogue replicant (Dave Bautista), who after killing makes a discovery of a skeleton buried near a tree. Upon further inspection at the LAPD, the person died while giving birth…the person was also a replicant. Because of the chaos this could cause, the LAPD commissioner Joshi (Robin Wright) orders K to find the child and kill it, as it could inspire replicant uprisings. Replicant manufacturer Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) also learns of the child and has K surveyed in order to find it. K’s investigates the matter with his A. I. companion Joi (Ana de Armas), which sets him on the trail of Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who disappeared 30 years ago.
In this fantastic sequel, nearly everything that was good in the original is made even better in this film. The set designs are larger than life and show the evolution of this world while also staying true to its roots by being realistic and grounded. The props and sets are further improved upon with the seamless use of CGI to help expand upon the neon feel of the original. The effects also help bring Joi to life via holographic imagery, allowing for her to take on an AI look while also not losing any of the humanity in de Armas’ performance. The cinematography and direction are also amazing, with Denis Villeneuve serving as a perfect replace men for Ridley Scott as he manages to capture the essence of the original film while also adding his own personal spin to it. With the legendary Roger Deakins as cinematographer, the film moves along like a living painting, with every frame looking like its own piece of art. From a technical level, from the directing to the set design, the film is perfect.
While the original is considered a masterpiece, there were some glaring issues with the acting, story and pacing. Thankfully in this film most of these issues are rectified. The performances in this film are perfect from nearly every aspect. Gosling brings his classic stoic personality to K, but also brings some imperfections to the character that make him feel more human, despite being a replicant. The entire supporting cast is also excellent across the board, with Ana de Armas giving an amazing performance as one half of the central relationship between K and Joi. Between the two, I’ve never felt more invested in a relationship between what are essentially two robots ever. There is not a single performance that feels wooden or uninvolved, as nearly everyone puts a unique spin on their respective characters no matter how small the part, allowing for an even more fleshed out world.
The story in the original film was fine at best, but here the story feels more investing from the start. From the very beginning, you are immediately wrapped up in the stakes that this mystery brings- who is the child of the replicants? The way the film is constructed allows you to solve the mystery with K as he goes along, allowing for some improved involvement from the audience. The story also receives some well needed tension and touches on some social issues with the stakes of it all. Add in the multiple parties trying to solve the mystery, and you’ve got yourself a mostly fast paced film with some twists and turns that I did not see coming.
While most of the problems were fixed, there was one that I thought that was easily avoidable, which was the pacing. Though the original film was under two hours, it still felt like it could’ve used more streamlining. While this one has plenty of push with the mystery, the film runs for nearly three hours. This was a case in which one or two plot threads could’ve been cut in order to help streamline the narrative. Though the pacing never really bothered me that much, I do understand why it would bother other people. The main twist was also something that bothered me. Though it is a genuinely good, well-constructed twist that makes since within the narrative, I feel like the more obvious choice would’ve lead to a more interesting conclusion. While I do love the twist, I feel it would’ve been better if it had gone a simpler route than the one we got.
This is one of the few times in which I believe that the sequel surpasses the original. While like the original film, it has its flaws. But the things that are good are so good that they completely eclipse the flaws and makes for one of the best science fiction films I’ve seen in a good while. With an intriguing story, stellar performances and improvement on nearly every aspect of the original, Blade Runner 2049 serves as a fitting sequel to the iconic original, while standing on its own as a true masterwork of filmmaking.
10/10