by Maria Siragusa
25 January 2018
In an almost three hour display of stunning visuals and an intricate and thoughtfully crafted story, Blade Runner 2049 (nominated for three Academy awards) wrestles with the idea of what it means to be human and the driving passion people have to do what they believe in. But don’t let its length scare you; this critically acclaimed movie is definitely worth putting in the time to watch it. It’s filled with breathtaking graphics, a deep and narratively pleasing story, and an amazing cast that weaves everything together beautifully.
The story is set in the dirty and polluted city of Las Angeles in the year 2049, thirty years after Ridley Scott’s classic Blade Runner setting in the year 2019. At this time, replicants– the intelligent human androids originally built by Tyrell Corporation– have advanced beyond belief. It is almost impossible to tell human from androids. Though instead of having blade runners “expire” them all, the city of Los Angeles now uses them on the police force so that they can expire flawed predecessors.
One android LAPD member Officer K (Ryan Gosling) unearths a secret after terminating one of his own that has the potential to cause chaos to what’s left of society. This puzzling discovery leads him to search for former blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) in order for him to put the pieces of the past together.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins presents a film that is visually stunning from the very start. No detail is left out. He successfully captures the look of congested, worn down, and smog-infested Los Angeles in its futuristic demise through the contrast of bright artificial colors weaved into the city.
This film is compelling, as well as dazzling to any viewer’s eye. The story that 2049 tells is one that is deep rooted in many sci-fi films, but it is told in a unique and successful way that is sure to catch the attention of any sci-fi fan, new or old.
The dark mood established plays an essential role throughout the film, reflecting the overall mood of many who reside in this dreary place and what society has crumbled into. This LA isn’t as smoke-filled as every single location in Ridley Scott’s 1982 film was, but this is beneficial to the plot. Director Denis Villenueve had some big shoes to fill with taking on this movie. He definitely manages to fill them and even break out of them as this movie links together the stories of Officer Deckard and his android lover Rachel with the new protagonist, Officer K. There are still a few questions left unanswered, but this only makes viewers more anxious for another film.
Hopefully it will be less than the 164 minute runtime of Blade Runner 2049. There are a lot of different aspects of the film that need to be included for some necessary connections to be made throughout, and this length provides these components without skimming over anything or leaving holes throughout the plot. Though this time is still probably intimidating to many, worry not: there was always something interesting going on in the film and the bleak yet strangely beautiful nature of its setting was hard to look away from.
Ryan Gosling in his role as Officer K plays an extremely convincing android. Script writers Michael Green and Hampton Fancher exceed their goals in making this artificial man seem just as real as any human. He is submissive and cold at the start of the movie like the androids of his time were supposed to be, but his emotions flourish as his drive to uncover information is revealed. Though he is not human, it’s amazing to see how he responds to situations as a human would, including the human thoughts and feelings that situations evoke from him. His relationship with holographic girlfriend Joi (Ana de Armas) causes his icy demeanor to subside and expose his more loving nature, as well as the bond that is formed with his predecessor Deckard.
This film is compelling, as well as dazzling to any viewer’s eye. The story that 2049 tells is one that is deep rooted in many sci-fi films, but it is told in a unique and successful way that is sure to catch the attention of any sci-fi fan, new or old.
Now begins the wait for another movie that will hopefully fill in some of the blanks left behind by Blade Runner 2049.
Though it would be nice if we didn’t have to wait another 35 years.
Blade Runner 2049 is rated R.
Maria Siragusa is a critic for Oswego East High School’s online news magazine the HOWL