Blade Runner 2049 - An unexpected and pleasant surprise

Blade Runner is a masterpiece of science fiction cinema that did not, I repeat, did not need a sequel. Regardless of which ending from whichever cut you prefer (for the uninitiated there have been seven different cuts of this film), the story leaves no unanswered questions that would warrant a sequel. And yet, over thirty years later, Warner Brothers and Sony have taken it upon themselves to make said sequel. With the Hollywood system crumbling down into mediocrity with remakes, reboots, and sequels, it's easy to assume such a movie would have no soul and only exists to set up a new cinematic universe, ala Marvel Studios, or cash in on an existing and uninterested fan base, ala Netflix's Death Note. Yet, here I am, writing this review for Blade Runner 2049, a film which, to my surprise, has surpassed all of my expectations in how unbelievably beautiful it is.

For those of you who don't know or need a quick refresher, Blade Runner was a science fiction film from 1982 that starred Harrison Ford as a police detective named Deckard and Sean Young as his love interest named Rachel. It was set in the future where robots called "Replicants" served as mechanical slave labor utilized off Planet. Any Replicant that tried to sneak its way back to Earth was sought after and executed by detectives like Deckard, who were referred to as Blade Runners. Also, as the film states, "This wasn't murder, it was called retirement." Deckard is tasked with tracking down a group of rogue replicants, which leads him down a path of self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the nature of life and love. If you have not yet seen this film, I would highly recommend you do so. Especially if you plan on seeing the new sequel, which I also suggest you do.

Blade Runner 2049 takes place thirty years after the events of the first film. It follows another Blade Runner named K (Ryan Gosling), who is sent out to investigate a mysterious body, which is somehow connected to Deckard, only to stumble upon an even stranger mystery that will change his life forever. And that is all I am prepared to tell you about the story of this film because you have to see this movie to believe it.

I have it on reliable authority that the director of Blade Runner 2049 Denis Villeneuve (more on him in a minute), specifically requested that critics not reveal story details that were not given away in the trailers. While I am not under any professional obligation to abide by this request, I do agree with Mr. Villeneuve's apparent belief that the less you know about a film before seeing it, the better of an experience it will be. Rest assured that the story of this film is one of intelligence, profound impact, and is ultimately human. So while I cannot say any more about the story, other than it is superbly written, please allow me to go in to further detail about some of the other aspects of this film that make it fantastic.

Director Denis Villeneuve, who previously directed Prisoners and Sicario, both equally well-made films, may have cemented himself as the next most celebrated filmmaker. He has an uncanny talent for telling dark and bleak stories in a way that never feels overly depressing, or difficult to swallow. He accomplishes this by offering three-dimensional characters with likable personalities and sympathetic human flaws, occasional moments of levity to raise the energy, and tends to conclude his stories in a manner that is not necessarily happy, but very satisfactory. Villeneuve's sense of pace and build up is also a great talent of his. As Blade Runner 2049, despite having a runtime of over two and a half hours, never feels slow at any point. I was so engaged with the film that when I finally looked at my watch during the end credits, I was shocked at how much time had actually passed. It was that engrossing.

The cinematography by Roger Deakins deserves a very special mention. Speaking as a cinematographer, and as a big fan of Mr. Deakins, I can comfortably say that this has to be some of his best work. The color style gives the film a sense of variety, thereby providing the film an air of visual evolution. No two scenes ever look exactly alike. The lighting style manages to capture the essence of the first film while still maintaining Deakin's signature style. The dark scenes are never too dark. No matter how little light may be at any given moment, you are never left wondering what you're looking at. Deakin's use of shadow and minimal lighting provides the film with an atmosphere of uncertainty which adds to the overall mystery. It is one of the most gorgeous looking movies I have seen all year.

The music is unusual yet appropriate. When I saw this film with my brother-in-law, we both agreed that the music was a little too aggressive and we didn't really like it. However, after some thought, we both came to the conclusion that it was intentionally uncomfortable, to enhance the mood of the film. Thankfully, I didn't find it so overwhelming as to become painful.

The acting is spot on. Everyone delivers there performances with grace and nuance. Harrison Ford reprising his role as Deckard is especially delightful. Ryan Gosling, who indeed carries the movie, is compelling and intriguing every step of the way. Furthermore, without spoiling anything, his character takes an ancient and tired cliche in storytelling and completely subverts it into something new and incredibly unexpected.

The most significant accomplishment this film bosts, however, is the fact that it is just a movie with a single story. It is not setting up a revitalization of an old franchise, it is not establishing a brand new cinematic universe for Warner Brothers and Sony to compete against Marvel with, and it is not dropping a ton of easter eggs that are building up to more movies in the future. This is arguably the best kind of sequel to Blade Runner that could have possibly been made. A new chapter that we didn't need, but can welcome with open arms. As its only goal is to tell a compelling story, and remind us all why we fell in love with movies in the first place.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. If you are a fan of the original Blade Runner, this new film will give you an experience that might surpass, if not equal, your experience prior. Just make sure to watch the "final cut" of the first movie before you go to the theater for this new sequel. Also, try not to drink too many liquids beforehand.

Is this movie worth seeing?
Yes.

Is it worth seeing in theaters?
Absolutely!

Why?
It has beautiful visuals, great characters, a compelling story, and is not afraid to take any risks.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you for reading.