Now before you read further, Denis Villenueve sent a personalised note to all film critics that they don't put the slightest bit of a synopsis in their review. It's apparently so everyone can go and watch this film with a clean slate and not know what to expect. Well, I'm going to honour that request because any kind of information can and will ruin this experience. Keep in mind I used the word 'experience'. So unfortunately I am going to have to be very vague because I don't want to ruin one of the best films of 2017.
The Story - 9/10
Despite the fact a synopsis won't be given, you still need a bit of a refresher from the last film. In the future, a new kind of slave labour has been made, replicants. They are faster, stronger and smarter than humans and are essentially seen as hardware. But they are illegal on earth and in this film are outlawed all together. Any replicant that goes haywire is 'retired' by a special task force member known as a Blade Runner. Ryan Gosling is a blade runner and has to fulfil his job requirements. One of the things that made Blade Runner so influential was the question it asked and how it presented them. Essentially "what does it means to be human"? Replicants are embodiments of Rene Descartes "I think therefore I am" philosophy. Similar motifs from the first film also appear in this, such as the importance of memories, eyes (through which they determine images and justify their memories) and freedom. But the main problem with having these motifs and questions appear in this film, is that we have already seen them before. But unlike other sequels, this one does what good sequels do. Blade Runner 2049 expands on the predecessor and explores the themes and mythos. This is all done in a meaningful way that feels organic and necessary. The world-building as well is done seamlessly and immerses you into the experience. But keep in mind that it is three hours long and the pacing is purposefully long and sometimes when it doesn't need to be.
The Characters - 9.5/10
Ryan Gosling plays Agent K. He is essentially the lens through which we experience this world and the people that live in it. He is also the target for the aforementioned motifs and philosophies. Like the problems I mentioned before, it also affects his character. He essentially has the similar existential crisis that Deckard has from the first film. But it is done in a very different way because while Deckard's crisis was personal, K's is pivotal to the whole entire story. This comes into the concept of expanding ideas from the original.
Harrison Ford returns as Deckard. The first thing I will address is that they still don't reveal his true identity. If you have watched the first film then you know what I mean. He thankfully isn't reliant to carry the story and the best thing about is he doesn't feel forced. Because the only reason you would ever want to keep Harrison Ford is if you were going to bank on nostalgia. Which is a legitimate worry. But that doesn't happen as he serves the story and has a purpose. There were even times when I didn't see Harrison Ford but Deckard. So I do have to give credit for that.
The only main problem I have with the cast is Jared Leto. He is essentially the replacement Tyrell. But I find him pointless to the grand narrative. But he did serve a particular purpose, he had his threatening and dominating moments, like showing disregard for a newly made replicant despite the fact it is living and breathing. But he only appears for around ten minutes of screen-time and is completely forgotten afterwards.
The Drama - 10/10
Just like the first Blade Runner, this film relies on tension and suspense. This accomplished with the EDM soundtrack and the cinematography by Roger Deakins. The pacing is what keeps the tension at focus and fresh in our minds. But this can also be a problem if it isn't handled correctly. Part of the reason why the film is nearly three hours long is because it is filled with scenes that draw out the tension and suspense. This can be a double edged sword because the tension can last forever and the audience wants it all to be over. But thankfully the scenes that are long and drawn out do serve a particular purpose to the story and you want to see it through to the end.
Conculsion
Blade Runner 2049 is the best sequel that the original film could get. If you loved the original, you are objectively going to love this. But if you didn't like the original, you are still going to like this. Give this a watch but make sure to use the bathroom before hand and pack plenty of snacks.
I am giving Blade Runner 2049 a 9.5/10
What an excellent review. Thank you. Full of interesting and insightful points.
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