BLADE RUNNER 2049 REVIEW

WARNING: CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS

To think 2049 is just 32 years round the corner, who knows maybe in Blade Runner, we've seen a small glimpse of our future, a replicant free one hopefully. So after 35 years, Ridley Scott's (Aliens, The Martian) Futuristic dystopian sci-fi cult epic and one of the most lauded science fiction movies of all time, was revived under the helm of Oscar nominated director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicario), to the curiosity of a younger generation and the elation of its now older fan base. I've never seen the original and might probably do so after this piece, if anything, to know why it's so highly regarded, but that was also a good thing as it made me see Blade Runner 2049 for what it really was with no basis for comparison or bias towards the revival.

First things first, don't attempt to see this movie tired, with its 2hr 43min run-time and slow paced delivery you run the risk of finding it your new lullaby, with that said, It is in no way derogating the quality of this movie, only putting out a caveat emptor for adrenaline seeking viewers. In my experience, most folks I saw it with, left the theater before the movie's expiration, and those who saw it to the end, grudgingly did so, as they were off their seats quicker than you could say 'The End' the minute the credits started rolling. With that out of the way, lets get on with it.

Blade Runner 2049 (BR2049) takes us to a dystopian future where organic sentient humanoids known as Replicants have been developed by humans to do their dirty work on (Earth) and off world (human colonies in space), they are physically enhanced and seem to possess all the other perks of being non-human. As soon as the movie begins we are introduced to one such specimen, an LAPD replicant cop who tracks down and executes rogue replicants who have jumped their program, these special cops are called Blade Runners (How cool is that for a Job title?), our Blade Runner portrayed by Ryan Gosling is Officer K or as he's later called Joe. While on official assignment to track down a rogue replicant, Joe stumbles upon a discovery that may unravel the very fabric of his world.

The viewer's perception of Joe at this point is still rather unfounded, as a replicant; which for most intents and purposes means he's a robot, he's flesh and bone but nothing more than a tool to do man's bidding, he has no soul, no emotion and is driven by command and logic, however, we get a more intricate look into his life when he resigns home after a day's work and does the most human things; takes a shower, grabs a meal and in line with our most innate and primal instincts, he desires company - a need which he's rectified in the form of an AI (Artificial Intelligence) girlfriend - a hologram called Joi (played by the gorgeous Ana de Armas), they seem as much a regular couple as you'd expect a robot and a hologram to be, they play house, have dinner, and Joe's good nature comes to the fore, and you suspect that replicants are beyond flesh and bone, that there may be something more underneath. From a story telling perspective, I did wonder if drawing the audience in first, before Joe's identity as a replicant was revealed (you find out literally in the first scene) would perhaps have been more endearing to the character before the big reveal.  As expected I Initially had no connection to the character knowing he wasn't 'human' and I participated mostly as an observer looking in, until his role is revealed as more pivotal than I had assumed, a reveal, which I believe achieved it's goal; a sudden jolt to increase your emotional investment in the character, Joe immediately becomes a 'somebody'  and only he and the audience know it.

Harrison Ford reprises his role as the missing and now aged Blade Runner, Rick Deckard. Deckard has been off the grid for 30 years but the former Blade Runner's connection to ongoing events is found by Joe in his unrelenting search for answers. Ford is perfect as a tired and haunted man who ran away from his former life and prefers to keep the past where it is...in the past. In meeting the young Blade Runner he is forced to acknowledge the life he left behind, as a ground breaking secret is on the verge of being exposed and a replicant revolution is imminent.

The plot eventually culminates into a satisfying, unexpected third act, with a delightful twist sure to astonish the most presumptuous viewers, it pulls the rug from under your feet just when you thought you had everything figured out, It's closing scene - as open ended as you'd expect it to be if the movie was considered successful enough to warrant a sequel, without necessarily being a cliffhanger. Unsurprisingly one of the best things about BR2049 is how, for a sequel it's such a good stand alone movie, no prior or real knowledge of the prequel is required, as much as the story is a continuation from the original, it's not so dependent that you have to keep badgering that Blade Runner fan beside you in case you can't get your head around the references.

With its dark tone, desolate theme and nihilistic core this movie was all sorts of weird from Niander Wallace's (Jared Leto) inconceivable, philosophical, blabbing to the weird human replicant-hologram threesome which I am getting into right away; the threesome between Joe, his digital girlfriend Joi and a replicant prostitute, Mariette is by far the weirdest thing I've seen in a long time, so much that I'm not done comprehending it.

Watching the BR2049 Trailer you would have been hard pressed not to imagine a couple of action packed scenes involving futuristic car chases, gunfights and sex! But like any decent Noir these are few and far between, literally every action scene you see in the trailer are the only ones you get in the movie, and its deliberate, as the movie strongly relies on its mysterious narrative to keep you guessing, it's slow pace and tiny reveals reward the viewer who's been paying attention, giving you a few WWID? (What Would I Do?) moments.

All in all BR2049 was an intelligent, intelligible, well rounded and delicately made thriller which blends elements of both Sci-fi and Noir to astonishing effect, it is visually flawless, while being heavily thought provoking and raises the question of what it truly means to be human. I enjoyed it, but its certainly not for everyone, its massive cult following  and great marketing will no doubt  carry the movie to some box office success, its certainly a movie you go to see with intent rather than just to pass the time or you will most likely be disappointed in what you get, as it may be considered a dull affair to the uninitiated.

PS: I didn't see this on IMAX and I can't help but wonder if that may have enhanced my experience a bit.

Reject Rating: 7.5/10