Unless you’re living under the proverbial rock, you’ll know that Ridley Scott’s ‘Blade Runner’ is considered a classic among science-fiction fans and film-makers in general. So, when its sequel ‘Blade Runner 2049’ was announced, the hype was very real. However, as the release date drew closer, all that buzz was lost like tears in the rain and almost nobody arrived at the theatre to watch it, despite the rave reviews it got.
As ‘Blade Runner 2049’ ended up being a commercial flop, it wasn’t nominated in the major categories in the Academy Awards. That robbed it of some of the exposure it would’ve gotten. And that’s why film fans have to wait God knows how many years to get a resolution for that cliffhanger of an ending. Unless, I can motivate you to watch it and request Warner Bros. for a sequel.
One of the first things that you are missing out on is the beautiful story of ‘Blade Runner 2049’, that’s garnished with thought-provoking elements. If you’re done with stale plots in Bollywood or Hollywood movies, this is the ultimate palette-cleanser.
‘Blade Runner 2049’ revolves around the character K (Ryan Gosling) who’s a humanoid robot trying to understand the meaning of life. And on his search to find who his maker is, he puts up interesting questions about what are the characteristics that makes us human? Do robots have the same rights as humans do? If not, are we again propagating a form of slavery? And if all that is not enough, it takes you on a ride that subverts every expectation that you associate with a hero’s journey.
For years, people have complained about how blockbusters have bad actors spouting lines in the worst way possible. But despite having the look of one, ‘Blade Runner 2049’ has a cast that gives brilliant performances.
As mentioned before, Ryan Gosling plays a humanoid robot. But how do you play a robot? By bringing a sense of oppression and complexity, despite being created to be better than humans. And if you don’t know what that performance looks like, you should watch ‘Blade Runner 2049’.
If you love women in strong and important roles, this movie has not one but four of them in the form of Robin Wright’s Lt. Joshi, Ana’s Joi, Sylvia’s Luv and Carla’s Ana Stelline. You’re bound to be blown away by the nuance they bring to their performances. And given the ending, I can bet you’ll be cheering for one of them.
While the roles of Jared Leto’s Niander Wallace and Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard are nothing more than extended cameos, they’ll stay with you for a long time. Ford undoubtedly gives one of the best performances of his life as a man who’s haunted by his past. On the other, Leto is spine-chillingly scary as a patriarchal God who’s afraid of his future.
Many movies have tried to recreate the future of humanity but they come off as too unrealistic. So, if you’re looking for a scarily accurate prediction of Earth a few years from now, this is your stop.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins has always wanted to do a sci-fi epic and jumped on the chance when he was offered to do ‘Blade Runner 2049’. So, you can say that this is his baby and he has nurtured it with utmost care. Every frame of this film looks like a painting and every colour will evoke an emotion that’s synonymous to the plot. Now where are you going to see something like that?
Additionally, the collaboration of Denis Villeneuve’s direction, Hans Zimmer’s score and Dennis Gassner’s production design creates a tapestry that you won’t want to miss. The way Villeneuve weaves through each scene is like magic and the eerie stillness before every crazy reveal is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. And last but not the least, the futuristic setting is so realistic that you’ll actively try to not let your world become like that.
Not to be rude, but a lot of film-makers are telling stories that don’t have a message. The reason I think that’s necessary is because a message is like an idea that’ll grow in the audience’s mind. And if you think so too, ‘Blade Runner 2049’ has a very important one for you.
Throughout the movie Officer K keeps thinking that he’s the chosen one, just like Harry Potter or Jon Snow. However, at a crucial point in the story, he realises he’s just another pawn in a game that’s being played by much higher powers. However, instead of breaking down and giving up on everything, he fights for what’s right and sacrifices everything for the sake of the bigger picture.
In real life, we sometimes have a pang of existential crisis that leaves us paralysed for long periods of time. And it’s natural to feel that way when you think that we’re living on a pale blue dot in an ever-expanding universe. But if you watch ‘Blade Runner 2049’, you’ll be imbued with the motivation to do something as inconsequential as picking up a piece of garbage and throwing it in the dustbin. Because maybe that might be the factor towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
So all in all, ‘Blade Runner 2049’ is a fantastic film. It’s not completely okay that you didn’t watch it when it came to a theatre nearby you. But you can rectify it now. It’s a rare piece of art where everything worked in perfect harmony and since you might’ve to wait a decade or so before anything similar is produced, go watch it this very instant.