Review: Blade Runner 2049 is a detective story wrapped up in a sci-fi masterpiece

Introduction:

The original Blade Runner is a revolutionary film even with its flaws. Some people don’t care for it, some people adore it! Blade Runner 2049, however, is a groundbreaking film with very few flaws and it's very likely the film will capture the admiration of anyone who enjoys a good narrative.

Without giving too much away, Blade Runner 2049 takes place 30 years after the original film. It follows a new protagonist by the name of Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a Blade Runner who lives an isolated life and is searching for a way to feel some sort of connection to anything at all. K eventually uncovers a major secret that could lead to the end of humanity and the unstoppable rise of human-like machines known as replicants. His journey eventually leads him in search of former Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who went missing in November 2019.

At the core of 2049, it’s a noir detective story like the original film. It’s by no means an action movie, the chaotic action is used sparingly, but effectively (more on that later). The story is constantly feeding you new questions and keeping you on your toes, you’re never fully sure of what’s going on even though you comprehend what’s happening. It’s a layered mystery filled with conspiracy, you’d be better off labeling it as a sci-fi thriller rather than an action/adventure flick.

2049 may be from a new filmmaker but it fits into this universe perfectly:

Despite this being helmed by a new director, a capable one at that, it maintains the same core concepts and themes as the original. What does it mean to be human? Are humans actually the enemy? How much should we fear the future? 2049 builds off of the foundation that Ridley Scott laid in the 1980s and even goes back to plant new questions for the cult classic sci-fi film. One must wonder if Scott had some of these ideas when making the original because it lines up so perfectly, it’s the most logical step for the series.

Just because it makes sense by the time credits roll doesn’t mean that this movie is predictable by any means. It’s one of the most refreshingly original and surprising sci-fi stories in years, decades even. It all clicks because director Denis Villeneuve and writers Michael Green and Hampton Fancher make sure every little aspect of this story is crafted with purpose and care, making sure nothing is without reason.

2049 also feels much more inviting and welcoming to the original movie. It still has room for you to conjure your own theories and for you to piece together the mystery alongside K, but it’s nowhere near as abstract as the original. It uses that to its strength, it doesn’t want you to zone out or lose focus on this very information heavy story which many can admit to happening during the first movie. The movie is also standalone enough that a newcomer can come in and understand what’s going on but you should probably watch the first movie to get a full grasp on 2049.

A gorgeous and vibrant world bursting at the seams with eye candy:

Officer K guides you through this unique world that’s gushing with color and visuals that left me in awe. It’s no spoiler to say that this movie does exit the rainy, dreary version of Los Angeles that we are so accustomed to with Blade Runner but when we do go elsewhere, you instantly have a feel of what this place is like, the people who inhabit it (or don’t) simply based off of the astonishing production design and cinematography.

Villeneuve helps build this vibrant world in small ways as well through the use of technology present in the movie. Sure, we have the ever-present neon billboards shoving the message of consumerism down your throat and the cool flying cars but where it really shines is in the subtle uses. One moment, in particular, sees a woman getting her nails done and instead of nail polish or anything normal, a man is seen applying some sort of moving neon pixels to her nails. It’s brief but it’s something that is truly appreciated.

There’s also a character in the film who is a holographic program and they’re meant to be seen as a “real person” but they have this very small transparent look to them, if you’re looking closely enough you can see through them. It’s an incredible use of the special effects and they continue to do really mind-blowing stuff with that character that made me think to myself “How the hell did they do this?”

An all-around magnificent cast, even if one actor falls short:

Almost every single actor gives it their all in this film, Ryan Gosling gives his best performance since Drive with a nuanced portrayal of a man who holds all of his emotion deep inside of him, mostly for the sake of his job. In the few moments where he actually lashes out, it’s marvelous. If Gosling can garner an Oscar nomination for 2016’s La La Land, he can nab another one and maybe even take home the trophy for Blade Runner.

One actor who didn’t particularly do much for me was Jared Leto. His performance is serviceable, it’s by no means bad but it feels a bit generic. He doesn’t have any real range or do anything of real interest, his long metaphorical monologues felt tiresome and boring but that’s not because of the writing. Leto just has the same whispery tone of voice the entire time, he wants to come off as weird and menacing but it didn’t quite work for me. He doesn’t have a ton of screen time so it’s not a major issue but it’s one worth noting.

Ford makes great use of his screen time by showing a range of feelings from anger to fear and sadness. He too could easily take home a nomination for Best Supporting Actor and I don’t think anyone would have any issue with that. It’s great to see Deckard back in action and how he has grown as a character in his 30-year absence.

Well shot action scenes that feel impactful and tense:

Gosling’s Officer K isn’t just a rehash of Deckard. Unlike Deckard, K is smart and does a lot of sleuthing to uncover this potentially Earth-shattering secret laid before him. Not only that but K is excellent in combat and helps elevate fight sequences to another level through his quick movement and close-quarters combat skills.

I could count on one hand how many fight/action scenes there are, there’s not a ton and they’re usually kept brief but damn are they good. The choreography is incredible as well as how it’s shot, Villeneuve lets you absorb every hit and gunshot without disorienting quick cuts or shaky camera movement. The action is allowed to play out and it results in awesome moments such as a dangerous fist vs. knife fight near the start of the movie which had me holding my breath and tensing up. You can feel the brutality and see the scrappy-ness, it never feels heavily scripted and it comes off as very natural, creating a spectacular flow during battles.

Besides Leto’s performance, if I had to nitpick to find something negative about the movie, it would be its length. The movie clocks in at a 163-minute runtime, nearly three hours long. 2049 likes to pay homage to Scott’s original creation in the form of long, lingering shots that loom on the city and various visuals and some scenes go on for an incredibly long time. You could easily trim some of the fat off this movie and still come away with the same remarkable product that we got.

The Verdict:

Blade Runner 2049 took me to places that I didn’t know I could be taken to through a movie. It’s an absolute rollercoaster of feelings and surprises that is driven purely by incredible writing, immersive environments, exotic visuals oozing with color, and Oscar-worthy acting. It’s an extraordinary achievement in filmmaking that doesn’t attempt to set up sequels, it wants to tell one story and that story is absolutely exquisite. Blade Runner 2049 is a film that will go down as one of the all-time greatest sci-fi pictures to ever grace the silver screen.