Movie
Review: Blade Runner 2049
The movie starts with…well we all know how it starts. Hello everyone
and welcome to a movie review in a very long long time. I have some pretty
important work to do but hell, how could I miss the sequel to one of the
greatest sci-fi classics? So dust your minds and prepare to dive into the never-ending
depths of existential crisis because this movie does just that. It asks the
question, it confuses the viewer and it tries to stride as far away as it can
from providing any actual answers. But fear not plebs!, this is in no way a bad
thing. Infact, just as the original, this is what works in the favour of the
movie most. So here we go!
The story
So none. Yeah none. Did the last one had any? Well it could
be argued. Throughout my review I will try to talk less about the original but
that’s very difficult because the new movie itself brings it up time and again.
Last time we were initiated with a simple premise- there are some rogue
androids and a man is assigned to kill them. From then on things took,
surprisingly enough, a very philosophical and unexpectedly dark turn. In 2049,
we know another blade runner is assigned to find and ‘retire’ some of the old
replicant models which are deemed to be unnecessary and a potential threat. This
time we know that the blade runner itself is a new model replicant. The new
replicants are different than the older models as they can't rebel and obey 100%.
But is that really true? When you design a sentient machine and explain it
about its existence, how can it not be curiously inclined to human tendencies?
The search to find the answer about his own creation leads
the protagonist of the story, played decently enough by Ryan Gosling as K/Joe,
to the tracks left behind by some of the earlier characters and the truth
hidden inside his own memory implants (or not). The story of the movie is much
more convoluted than whatever can be surmised in a review. Much like its predecessor,
the movie runs around in circles within its own established circumstances and
does not intend to move in a straightforward direction. Well this is debatable
as well. Some can say the movie poses questions and then tries to arrive at
answers like any other regular story but in this case we don’t arrive at
answers. Things are not purposefully hidden from the audience, but it was never
the goal to reveal anything new. The whole point is to allow a rumination into the
human psyche itself. We do have some very nice twists and laud worthy acts
which deserve a standout mention but I refuse to do so because even then they do
not lead us anywhere. Is it frustrating? Is it repetitive? There is no easy
answer to that. Does it make the movie lag? That has a definitive answer and it
is ‘no’. It depends heavily on the premise set up by the original blade runner
but by no means lets it show as a burden. The movie is as bountiful in
environmental richness as it predecessor. It takes all the right lessons and
impeccably moulds them around a new story and a new hero. This is abstract
storytelling at its best. Thanks to the writing talents of Michael Green and
Hampton Fancher (the guy who wrote the original 1982 version)
The
characters
The characters were particularly exceptional in this one (The
last movie came out in bloody 1982! Don’t blame me for not remembering them all).
The beauty of it is that the ones which are mentioned quite infrequently and
those who occupy the least screen-time are the best. From Jared Leto’s Niander
Wallace (who’s just a more maniacal version of Tyrell), to my personal
favourite- Dave Bautista’s Dr. Sappy Morton. Sappy had little to do. Sappy had
little to say. Sappy was a little emotional. But Sappy made it all possible.
The whole movie stands on what Sappy buried underneath. And those of us who’ve
seen the short films released prior, love Sappy all the more. Major characters
included the protagonist- K (Ryan Gosling), a Blade Runner/Replicant; his boss
Lt. Joshi (Robin Wright); the sort of main villain- Luv (Sylvia Hoeks) and a
really really flawed holographic home AI/sex fantasy bot- Joi (Ana de Armas)
(that woman loved humans more than sharks love blood, eh Claire).
All of these characters fit particularly well in the oeuvre crafted
for them. But we do see the good is good, bad is bad trope here which was quite
honestly unavoidable for a movie like Blade Runner. Despite that, none of their
actions seem forced but bode rather well with the story and premise set to
achieve their respective goals.
Themes
The movie is heavy (or high) on some really nerdy esoteric
investigations. But isn’t that what makes it awesome? The movie deals with
questions from the beyond. The ones we still ponder about. What makes us real? What
does it mean to be human? How do we know we’re alive? Is it just the memories
or our feelings? If they can be artificially replicated then how different are
we from synthetic life forms created by our own hands?
Other than that, the movie explores the various other themes
in conjunction to the ones stated above like the love, sexuality, desire and
what it means to belong. Racism, slavery, abandonment, environmental blight
accompanied by poverty and prejudice, are ubiquitous in this expansive dystopian
future spectacle. Which forces us to confront the present and harmful
repercussions of the actions in our own reality. With some fiery scenes to add
to all that mysticism, we forget what we’re thinking and end up totally
immersed in this one of a kind experience. (yeah! M-F-holoF threesome for the win!)
The
presentation
Finally we come to my favourite part about the movie - The
delivery. Honestly, I am a cynic. I didn’t believe anybody could pull off a
sequel to blade runner. It would’ve been detrimental to keep it the same and
even to do something new. And nobody asked for this. This movie wasn’t needed. I
thought this is going to be just like another one of those Terminator sequels
type of film which will imitate a classic, try to cash in on its success and fail miserably.
But I was wrong. And thank god for that. Denis Villeneuve’s done a magnificent
job as expected from the director of Prisoners and Arrival. Come to think of it,
nobody was a better choice to helm this sequel. The movie impressively uses all
the good elements and otherworldly feel of the previous movie and gives us
something which is both new and refreshing as well as a solid link to the past. The
movie is visually stunning and the immaculate variety of detail is unmatched. There
are some Villeneuve trademark consistency issues in going from one scene to the
other but that is easily overlooked. In my opinion, the movie runs in two
parallels. One where people are talking, killing and taking story forward. And
the other one which is just a beautiful view of our protagonist taking things
one step at a time. Moving slowly through dilapidated streets, blinding dust
storms and cities in rains (lots and lots of rain). That is the part which is a real treat to watch instead of whatever’s happening with other
characters. That is the facet of the film which turns to the real theme of the
whole story, “what it truly means to be human?”.
The background score by Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer
is the true hero of everything. Not one moment of introspection is dull and no
scene seems lethargic just because of the great music it has. This is going to
be the one I expect to win this year’s Oscar. The loud distortions, the serene
waterfalls, the moving vehicles- all portray perfectly the chaotic future and the insecurity that flows within the community. From acting on our base
instincts to dealing with more metaphysical speculation, the music accompanies
it all through deafening quiet till the explosive consequences.
The Verdict
Visually riveting, emotionally exhaustive and visceral beyond bounds; the sequel to one the most thoughtful depictions of dystopian society leading to the uprising of new life is just as uncompromising and admittedly ground-breaking as its prequel. It is a sci-fi action artificial intelligence drama which invigorated an otherwise clichéd genre. Amazingly, it didn’t do anything new and very distinct from the 1982 version but now we must understand that’s how movies based on the future should be made. Futuristic in any present. It isn’t about the technology, it’s about creation and evolution. Should you watch it? Obviously. I mean did you even read a single word I wrote?
The author was again late for the movie but it started 25 minutes late. He doesn't know if its a win or loss. He also regrettably whined about the uncomfortable seats as well on text.
P.S.- This movie was a better live action version of ghost in the shell than the live action version of ghost in the shell.
