It’s a well-known premise: human beings, devoid of their humanity in a future dystopian world genetically engineer beings who then revolt against their makers. Thirty years after Ridley Scott’s 1982 Blade Runner , these artificial humans, Replicants, have gone into hiding to try and lead normal lives. Blade runner Officer K, (Ryan Gosling) has been tasked to kill the remaining rogue Replicants but he discovers disturbing news that could affect the balance between real people and manufactured humans.
Denis Villeneuve’s film, eschews the distinctly noir route the predecessor takes. Instead, Blade Runner 2049 is restrained, in its pace, emotions and even the fights. There’s a lot that unfolds, but nothing happens quickly. That said, there’s not a boring moment in the film’s 164-minute duration. Villeneuve makes his audience ache for the film’s climax and has perfectly cast Gosling to play the stony-faced protagonist who rarely breaks, even when his world is crashing. Blade Runner 2049 is entirely the Canadian actor’s film with little focus on other characters. However, watch out for several cameos including an unexpected one from the 80s film.
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista
- Storyline: Officer K, a blade runner with the LAPD, chances on a secret that could change the face of humanity for the world.
Villeneuve is mighty clever: when we’re not searching for the truth (among other things) in Gosling’s face, the director compels his audience to pay attention in other ways. The entire film… every single frame from start to finish is breathtaking. The screen comes alive with sweeping expanses of desolate orange landscapes and grey horizons that highlight isolation. But it’s Los Angeles’ bleak city scenes that are particularly captivating. Villeneuve effectively uses visual effects to create a concrete jungle with massive holograms and structures to make his audience marvel at the scale they’re viewing on screen. Then there’s a particularly spectacular albeit leisurely fight between K and another character that goes down in an art deco hotel replete with glitchy holograms of performances by Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.
While jaws may be agape at the spectacle that’s only enhanced in IMAX, there’s still the matter of the film actually lacking in any real narrative. The emphasis on human cruelty and man’s existential search for meaning has been done before in several films. Take for instance, Artificial Intelligence (2001); I-Robot (20014) or even Ex Machina (2014). We don’t actually shed any tears for the Replicants suffering on screen. Certainly, some moments try desperately to be tear-jerkers, but it’s not effective enough.
In addition to Gosling’s performance, a huge shout out to Robin Wright (as Kay’s LAPD superior Lt. Joshi) for yet another cool as a cucumber performance. Jared Leto’s much-hyped role as antagonist Niander Wallace is exceptionally short but like always, the actor leaves a mark with his performance. It’s unlikely that Blade Runner 2049 will reach the cult status Scott’s original film developed, though Villeneuve’s effort is a labour of love that certainly deserves its due.
