I'll be honest, I got chills just writing this title. For those of you that don't know, Denis Villeneuve is one of my favourite directors of all time, producing critically acclaimed films such as Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival. Now he has taken on the incredibly hard task of recapturing the magic of Ridley Scott's 1982 masterpiece Blade Runner. Not only do I think this film lives up to the reputation of the original, I think it might be just as good.
Now is usually when I give a brief synopsis for the film, but I can't for this film. There are so many different twists and turns that I don't think it is possible to summarize this film in any way without letting out any spoilers. Just know that the story unfolding in this film is more than worth the price of admission.
Ryan Gosling plays a detective working for the LAPD. I think Gosling is incredibly talented, and I think this may be some of his best work. I want to go more in depth into his performance but again, it's extremely hard to without spoiling. Overall his performance is great and he carries the film very well. Harrison Ford is pretty solid in the film. While it's great to see him back in one of his most iconic roles, I personally didn't find that his performance was memorable, but it served its purpose so I'd say he did a good job. Of the other higher name actors in the film I think Robin Wright's was one of the standout performances. She plays Gosling's superior and does a great job of showing her power in a subtle but strong way. While those three are fun to talk about, the most exciting part of the acting side of this film is the great performances from relatively unknown actors. The most well known one I'll talk about it Mackenzie Davis, who had a really great supporting performance in 2015's The Martian. She basically plays a futuristic hooker, but her character goes deeper than just that, and her performance further enhances that depth. The next two actresses really impressed me as I had never heard of them going in. Ana de Armas plays Joi, a companion to Gosling's character. While this character could easily be a write off love interest, de Armas and the writers give her a unique arc that is interesting to watch unfold. Sylvia Hoeks plays a replicant working for Jared Leto's character, and is honestly one of my favourite parts of the film. She is extremely bad-ass, showing her strength and determination throughout, and also has some sophistication, making her somewhat similar to Sofia Boutella's character from Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Now onto the film-making side of this movie. Denis Villeneuve is a master at his craft. Going into this film I thought he was the top director of the decade, but I'd be more than willing to listen to counter arguments. Now however, I don't think there is any debate. The pacing of this movie resembles that of his past efforts, and it brilliantly fits the Blade Runner universe. It is a slow burning movie but somehow manages to never drag, as Villeneuve is incredible at creating tension and mystery that are impossible to look away from. I find a lot of films have areas that drag on a bit, but for a slow burning, nearly three hour long movie to never lose my investment is a testament to the talents of this brilliant director. The great pace adds to the film even further than the audiences interest as well. The slow burning yet still engaging pace adds to the vibe of the film, connecting it to the feel of the original. While I don't think many films have a chance at measuring up against the visual brilliance of the first film, this one sure tries its hardest. The cinematography is done by Roger Deakins, undoubtedly one of the best in the business, and this is some of his best work. This film is dark and gloomy throughout a lot of it, and still manages to be a spectacle to behold. You could fill an art gallery with screenshots from this film, that is how beautifully shot it is. In case you were worried that the score couldn't keep up with how great the other technical aspects are, it can, and it does. The music was done by Benjamin Wallfisch and the brilliant Hans Zimmer, and it is gorgeous. There are some scenes where the music is big and epic, some where it is subtle and subdued, and some where no music plays at, using silence to build tension. The way the score constantly fits the film, as well as having hints of the original film's sound design within it, make this movie as beautiful to listen to as it is to watch.
This creative team has created something truly special in Blade Runner 2049. We are put into the Blade Runner world 30 years after the original takes place, and while technology is updated, the tone hasn't changed. Villeneuve has proven himself once again as a heavyweight in his profession, and hopefully will continue his string of brilliance. This film manages to live up to the pedigree of its classic predecessor, and also manages to stand tall on its own as a piece of incredible, near-perfect science fiction.
Rating: 4.9/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
Now is usually when I give a brief synopsis for the film, but I can't for this film. There are so many different twists and turns that I don't think it is possible to summarize this film in any way without letting out any spoilers. Just know that the story unfolding in this film is more than worth the price of admission.
Ryan Gosling plays a detective working for the LAPD. I think Gosling is incredibly talented, and I think this may be some of his best work. I want to go more in depth into his performance but again, it's extremely hard to without spoiling. Overall his performance is great and he carries the film very well. Harrison Ford is pretty solid in the film. While it's great to see him back in one of his most iconic roles, I personally didn't find that his performance was memorable, but it served its purpose so I'd say he did a good job. Of the other higher name actors in the film I think Robin Wright's was one of the standout performances. She plays Gosling's superior and does a great job of showing her power in a subtle but strong way. While those three are fun to talk about, the most exciting part of the acting side of this film is the great performances from relatively unknown actors. The most well known one I'll talk about it Mackenzie Davis, who had a really great supporting performance in 2015's The Martian. She basically plays a futuristic hooker, but her character goes deeper than just that, and her performance further enhances that depth. The next two actresses really impressed me as I had never heard of them going in. Ana de Armas plays Joi, a companion to Gosling's character. While this character could easily be a write off love interest, de Armas and the writers give her a unique arc that is interesting to watch unfold. Sylvia Hoeks plays a replicant working for Jared Leto's character, and is honestly one of my favourite parts of the film. She is extremely bad-ass, showing her strength and determination throughout, and also has some sophistication, making her somewhat similar to Sofia Boutella's character from Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Now onto the film-making side of this movie. Denis Villeneuve is a master at his craft. Going into this film I thought he was the top director of the decade, but I'd be more than willing to listen to counter arguments. Now however, I don't think there is any debate. The pacing of this movie resembles that of his past efforts, and it brilliantly fits the Blade Runner universe. It is a slow burning movie but somehow manages to never drag, as Villeneuve is incredible at creating tension and mystery that are impossible to look away from. I find a lot of films have areas that drag on a bit, but for a slow burning, nearly three hour long movie to never lose my investment is a testament to the talents of this brilliant director. The great pace adds to the film even further than the audiences interest as well. The slow burning yet still engaging pace adds to the vibe of the film, connecting it to the feel of the original. While I don't think many films have a chance at measuring up against the visual brilliance of the first film, this one sure tries its hardest. The cinematography is done by Roger Deakins, undoubtedly one of the best in the business, and this is some of his best work. This film is dark and gloomy throughout a lot of it, and still manages to be a spectacle to behold. You could fill an art gallery with screenshots from this film, that is how beautifully shot it is. In case you were worried that the score couldn't keep up with how great the other technical aspects are, it can, and it does. The music was done by Benjamin Wallfisch and the brilliant Hans Zimmer, and it is gorgeous. There are some scenes where the music is big and epic, some where it is subtle and subdued, and some where no music plays at, using silence to build tension. The way the score constantly fits the film, as well as having hints of the original film's sound design within it, make this movie as beautiful to listen to as it is to watch.
This creative team has created something truly special in Blade Runner 2049. We are put into the Blade Runner world 30 years after the original takes place, and while technology is updated, the tone hasn't changed. Villeneuve has proven himself once again as a heavyweight in his profession, and hopefully will continue his string of brilliance. This film manages to live up to the pedigree of its classic predecessor, and also manages to stand tall on its own as a piece of incredible, near-perfect science fiction.
Rating: 4.9/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
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