Today marks the three year anniversary of one of the greatest sequels ever made, directed by Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049. The story follows Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a new blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department, who unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who’s been missing for 30 years, and race against other forces who have their own agendas.
The original Blade Runner was an iconic film that shaped the sci-fi genre 38 years ago, and it took a lot of time for people to truly appreciate all it had to offer. The same can certainly be said about Blade Runner 2049, which at the time of its release was hugely under marketed and ended up being an under-performer. And yet despite that it’s honestly one of the greatest movies ever made in recent years. It’s perfection from start to finish. This is the film that makes people want to study film or, hell, even go out and make films.
Denis Villeneuve created a grand epic that is able to stand out on its own without a heavy reliance on its predecessor, which to me is what a proper sequel should do. The story in this film isn’t as complex as its predecessor, but it is a very smart narrative that has a lot of the same elements and themes of the original, while also having all new ones. This is still the same universe that we were introduced to years ago but it has evolved differently, and we are able to see much more of this world now thanks to the updated technology we’ve achieved for films in recent years.
It is a lengthy film but you always feel engaged and interested in the story and the world that you could never feel bored by it. There is so much to absorb and so much detail that you find something new every time you watch it. And even with such a big world we are still following the story of a Blade Runner who is very different from Deckard.
Right from the get go we understand that K is an upgraded replicant who is tasked with taking out with rogue replicants, and unlike Deckard, who has more humanity and emotion, K is a more cynical and focused individual who is willing to do what is necessary to keep the peace.
His first scene with the older replicant, who is beautifully played by Dave Bautista and was a serious highlight despite his brief appearance, perfectly establishes his character as well as the gritty tone of this story. Ryan Gosling really brings a strong performance as this character, who over the course of solving this case tries to find his own identity, as well as find his own free will despite being considered a bioengineered slave for humanity to use to their will.
Ana De Armas as Joi is also seriously good in this film, offering a lot of levity to the story as well as to K’s character, showing a more human side in him. We also have Jared Leto as the main antagonist of this film who is a truly cold and calculated individual with a very disturbing god complex, as he is now the essential successor in making new replicants. He represents part of the corruption that exists in this dystopian world and Leto really plays the part well.
But by far one of the best performances in the entire film next to Ryan Gosling’s K is Harrison Ford reprising Deckard. This is honestly the best performance Harrison Ford has given in his entire career, playing not just some older version of a character but a truly haunted veteran from another time. We don’t know everything he’s been through in the first film, but we can immediately tell that he is someone who has gone through a lot since we last saw him. He doesn’t appear until much later in film but by god did he totally own the screen when he came along.
Villeneuve truly chose his cast perfectly, as he always does, and really made them bring their A-material for this film, even when the roles might be short (Dave Bautista being a prime example). Much like its predecessor, Blade Runner 2049 is a brutal story that pulls no punches, especially when it comes to how replicants are viewed by society. It’s great to see someone else take a new and bold direction with the themes presented in the first film and explore them further, in new ways that add more greatness to the narrative and meat to the world.
And speaking of the world it wouldn’t be a Blade Runner 2049 review without talking about the most god damn fucking beautiful cinematography and visual effects that have ever been seen in a film. The famous Roger Deakins was brought in for this, and basically every single shot simply oozes perfection, giving off gorgeous colors and setting up this dystopian world in such a perfect light. No matter who you ask, everyone has agreed that the cinematography in Blade Runner 2049 is beyond amazing and deserves all the praise it has received. The visuals are truly outstanding, with a mix of practical and CGI that is so smooth and rich that it feels real.
And then of course there is the score. The FUCKING score! Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer together bring the world to life with some of the most epic sci-fi music I think I’ve ever heard. It’s pure bliss to listen to and it certainly draws you into the truly beautiful yet eerie world of 2049.
Not only did Denis Villeneuve truly deliver a fantastic sequel, he also delivered a very powerful film that stands out on its own and has greatly inspired many. It does take time and maybe multiple rewatches to fully appreciate, but for me I think it’s one of the most perfect movies ever made, which is why I’m giving Blade Runner 2049 an A+.
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