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Good film but I still don't know if Ford's a robot or not....
This is one of those films that the critics absolutely love that’s had so much praise over the years you feel like you are forced to like it. However, and I don’t want to sound too harsh, this may be one of the worst films I have ever watched. I enjoy the type of films critics’ love that asks for an active spectator in which you need to concentrate and work the film out but unfortunately this one was beyond me. The plot is so slow that even the actors looked bored. There were so many questions at the end that never got answered which left me feeling frustrated- not what I want when watching a movie. I can, however, admire the beautiful visuals which at the time were groundbreaking (although perhaps now are very outdated). Overall, it was just two hours of my life gone to waste.
This movie is one of those films that you’d feel you have to be in the mood to see it before you do. Harrison Ford leads well as the Blade Runner who has been tasked to track down the replicants.
The story line seems impressive, however, there is so much going on in the movie and I’d have to admit that I didn’t find much of it as interesting as I should. I appreciate the efforts of the actors to create a movie about a futuristic world gone wrong, but I find it a lot more complex each time I watch it and that turns me off.
Ridley Scott masterfully produced this movie, the effects are futuristic, and the story is a brilliantly crafted one, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d have loved to.
When Philip K. Dick died in 1982, he had seen only a small selection of footage from the upcoming adaptation of his 1968 novel; ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’. In a letter he sent to the production company of this film he stated; ‘it is not science fiction; it is not fantasy; it is exactly what Harrison [Ford] said: futurism. The impact of BLADE RUNNER is simply going to be overwhelming, both on the public and on creative people… This is not escapism; it is super realism, so gritty and detailed and authentic and goddam convincing that, well, after that segment I found my normal present-day “reality” pallid by comparison. What unique new form of graphic, artistic expression, never before seen. And, I think, BLADE RUNNER is going to revolutionize our conceptions of what science fiction is and, more, can be’.
Dick may not have lived to see it finished nor the various cuts and edits that would be subsequently released over the years but, on one thing he was already certain, Blade Runner was going to revolutionize the genre in which he had been writing in for over thirty years.
While that is all well and good, we all won’t be watching with the same eyes of the Science-Fiction master that Dick did. In short, what would your average audience member (like you or me) think of the film? In this review, I will be reviewing specifically the Final Cut that was done in 2007.
Perhaps the most instantly notable (and iconic) aspects of BLADE RUNNER is found in its visual presentation. Director Ridley Scott has always had an eye for immaculate and gorgeous cinematography with his previous features The Duelists (1977) and Alien (1979) being a testament of this. Blade Runner blows both of those combined out of the water with his third cinematic outing. A dark and towering cityscape flooding with neon lights and the blinding beams of overhead airships and giant advertisements. A world constantly basked in night and rain, the lighting works brilliantly within the frame and every single shot in the near two-hour runtime is absolutely gorgeous. With Blade Runner came the popularisation (and perfection) of the ‘cyberpunk ‘ aesthetic, making the film a must watch for fans of the genre and its other films (examples include Akira (1988) and The Matrix (1999). Blade Runner is a masterwork in cinematography and the gold standard in cinema for how a film ‘ought to look! It’s gritty and dark world becomes so immersive due to this that you cannot help but be sucked in and endlessly captivated.
On the note of visuals, the special effects (and other technical aspects of the film) are equally as breathtaking. Giant miniatures of buildings and skyscrapers shot so immaculately makes this dystopian world feel real and right in front of you. Every single shot of the city, no matter how ambitious or complex, looks perfect with very little indicating what is happening is fictitious. This all goes to enhance the immersion quality of the film and goes even further to captivate the audience.
One deterrent for many potential viewers is the film’s pacing, while it is true that the film’s plot is quite thin and the shots often long and meandering, this can be easily ignored if watched in the right mood. Due to a poor advertising campaign at the time, many initial moviegoers back in 1982 were expecting an explosive sci-fi action thriller, that is definitely not the case. Blade Runner borrows heavily from the classic crime noir genre of the 40’s and 50’s, making the film more of a detective film than anything, one that takes its time in developing the plot as to give the other aspects of the film more time to flourish. It may bore some, ones who are not used to this kind of cinema and who enjoy frequent action and a story that twists and turns to a dramatic climax, but if one goes in with an open mind, they can come out with so much more than any other film like that could hope to offer.
One cannot discuss Blade Runner without mentioning its score. Composed by Greek electronic musician Vangelis, the score for Blade Runner is one of the greatest ever written. Its dark, rich and moody synths mixed in with traditional world music creates the same futuristic and ancient multicultural juxtaposition that can be seen in the film itself. It is gorgeous and hypnotising; ranging from soft and haunting to powerful and intense. Vangelis achieves here what most composers could only ever dream of.
One negative about this film can be found in the performances. The main cast leaves a lot to be desired in their roles. Harrison Ford, in particular, can come off as quite robotic at times and the others are no different. The one major exception to this is the absolutely amazing performance from Rutger Hauer in the role of the film’s antagonist; Roy Batty. He dominates any scene he is in and is incredibly intimidating and sinister and yet, when it is required, the sympathy his character evokes is powerful and deeply moving. To be specific, the final ‘Tears in Rain’ speech from Hauer still remains one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history and for good reason. Joe Turkel as Eldon Tyrell, a long time collaborator with directors like Stanley Kubrick is also fantastic along with a couple other side characters, it is just a shame we couldn’t see the same energy from many of the mains.
So, we’ve discussed a somewhat lacking of action, but is it completely devoid? Absolutely not. But, while many blockbusters often base the story around action sequences already planned and written, the case for Blade Runner is much different, the action feels much more like an extension of the story, making what tension is created less focussed on the few minutes during a sequence and manages to maintain that same suspense and overhanging dread for the entire film. The camerawork during these sequences is also interesting as it does not quickly cut between different angles to make the visuals more exciting, it’s cuts are minimal as to create a more realistic and, therefore, dramatic moment.
In conclusion, Blade Runner is a hypnotising and fascinating triumph of cinema. There is a reason it tops so many ‘best film of all time’ lists, it is a stunning exploration of a dystopian future and the themes and questions on identity that are brought into perspective in a society with human replicating androids. It is rich, dark and complex with such powerful ambition on part of the filmmakers that is hard not to be swept away by the poetic beauty of the film and pulled into its world. Never has an impoverished dystopia looked so desirable.
There is an endless amount to say about this film and much of it has been said already so I will leave it here. I highly recommend Blade Runner for anyone willing to test their patience and experience something truly amazing.
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