Blade Runner 2049: Movie Review
"Blade Runner" (1982) was a masterclass of filmmaking. A remarkable, thought provoking story, full of rich cinematography. "Blade Runner 2049" is a somewhat less remarkable sequel but just as immensely satisfying and beautiful as the 1982 classic.
The film takes place thirty years later in 2049, where a young Blade Runner named 'K' (Ryan Gosling) finds himself uncovering secrets from the past. While it's villains are not as interesting, the story development is a lot more enticing this time around, and gives you good reason to want to uncover what happens at the end of the film.
Before I rave about it's music, editing and sound, there are a few frustrations that rear its ugly head throughout. Rutger Hauer in the original "Blade Runner" was hauntingly effective as the main villain, and still to this day is an icon for 80's cinema. In this new colorful entry, Nianda Wallace, played by Jared Leto, doesn't hold a light to Hauer's excellent portrayal. Even the agile combat of Luv (Sylvia Hoeks) is very good but doesn't seem like the dangerous threat or even a match for 'K'. The beginning scene with the growling Bautista is fantastic and by the time the scene ended I wished there was more of that type of choreography.
Another little complaint is the length. I usually have no problem with sprawling epics, but "Blade Runner 2049" feels like an overstuffed love letter to the fans of the original. Even though its a solid experience all around, I couldn't help the feeling that a lot of scenes could have been edited down.
But forget the minor little quibbles, this is the definition of crafting cinema art. A mind numbing, LSD trip through the eye of legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins. The overarching dystopian bleakness is gorgeous to admire and sad to experience. Each scene crafted with such delicacy and fine tuning, it's impossible to look away even for a second.
Also to note is the immersive soundtrack and heart pounding sound that ultimately gives the film a pulse of electrifying tendencies. A tour de force by composer Hans Zimmer, resembling the best of The Dark Knight series. It's a feast for the ears, and one of the best soundtracks of recent memory.
The performances are all decent. Ryan Gosling plays his version of Blade Runner with a captivating but somewhat motionless stir to his performance. Harrison Ford is good and plays off amazingly well with Gosling. The other performances are all forgettable, especially Leto who I found to be comically silly at times.
"Blade Runner 2049" is an overstuffed, but satisfying sequel. It's amazing to look at and there's enough story to move things along in a tight fashion. Director Denis Villeneuve sometimes relies to heavily on the original for his ideas, but has crafted cinema eye candy. If you've seen the 1982 original and enjoyed it, this new version is a must see for a new generation.
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