BLADE RUNNER 2049
US, 2017, 163 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista, Mark Arnold, Wood Harris, Sylvia Hoeks, Edward James Olmos, Jarrod Leto, Hiam Abbas, Sean Young.
Directed by Dennis Villeneuve.
Although not immediately so popular in its time, Ridley Scott’s version of the Philip K.Dick story, Blade Runner (1982), it has become an increasingly popular cult science fiction film, dramatising Dick’s vision of a possible future.
It is a very brave director who would take on a sequel. Dennis Villeneuve has proven his talent as a director with his Oscar-nominated Incendies, as well as Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival. He seems eminently qualified to take up the challenge and critics were generally in favour of his work. However, many of the bloggers were not so enthusiastic. In fact, box office has been disappointing.
Villeneuve would have been criticised if his sequel was much the same as the original. However, he has been more than criticised because many say that it is not sufficiently like the original. They find it too slow, too reflective…
While there is action, it is a very long film. And the screenplay offers a lot of reflection about human nature, humanity, robotics, the replicants, their place in society, authorities and authoritarianism, commercial control, ruthlessness… Plenty to think about during the duration of the film.
In 2049, the replicants are superior to the old models, many of whom are being sought and destroyed. And, in the background, there is a rebel group waiting for revolution.
The new replicant is K, Ryan Gosling. When sent on a mission to destroy an old replicant, he uncovers some secrets which may or may not involve himself, his origins. There is a story of a replicant actually giving birth and the mystery of who the child was and where the child is.
This sets K on a mission, not quite authorised by his control, Madam (Robin Wright). K lives in the city, very reminiscent of the visuals of the original film) and has a holographic companion, Joi, Ana de Armas. He also becomes entangled with a woman of the street, Mackenzie Davis, which leads to some bizarre explorations of intimacy and sexuality, but also to the revolution.
The film explains how entrepreneur, Wallace (Jared Leto) has taken over replicant business from the the old Tyrell manufacturing company. His assistant, Luv (Sylvia Hoek) is reminiscent of the old-style tough replicants, a loyal assistant but a propensity for violence and martial arts skills. Clearly, there will be a buildup to a confrontation.
But K goes out into the polluted area to find the hero of the past, Deckard. So, here is Harrison Ford again, appearing at the middle of the film, but immediately taking command with his strong presence and personality. The mansion in which he lives is intriguing, grand but decaying, the gambling palace, memories of the 20th century (including holograms of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra).
This means that Deckard and K go on their mission, to find the mysterious child, to understand what happened, to a buildup to battles between Deckard, K and Luv.
There is enough material here to lead to a sequel – and one might hope that those who appreciated this film will be offer enough support for the making of the sequel.
1. The status of the original film? Acclaim, cult? The impact of a sequel? The year 2049?
2. The popularity of the stories by Philip K Dick, film and television versions? Science fiction, futuristic? Themes of the imagination? Philosophical existential themes? Human nature? Technology and robotics?
3. The director, his career? His skills? The cast?
4. The continuity with the original? The information about the replicants? The LAPD? The history of the blackout, the loss of history, the nuclear devastation? The place of humans on Earth?
5. The introduction to the theme, the initial information, the replicants, a replicant giving birth, the reaction of authorities, the destruction of the child, rebels and the care of the child, human fear and alienation, the preparation for revolution?
6. The visual style of the film, the look of Los Angeles as in the original, the skyscrapers, the dark, the neon hoardings, information, brands, sexuality? Travel through the city, beyond? The vehicles? Outside the city, California, the fields, the farm, the desert? Deckard’s house and interiors? The scenes in the water? Atmosphere?
7. The importance of action sequences, stunt work? Special effects? Editing and pace?
8. The explanations of 2049, Tyrell and his company, the failure, the takeover by Wallace? The world situation? Humans, in the cities? The role of the replicants, the earlier models, slaves, reactions, the new Breed, hunting down the old?
9. K and the initial hunt, the plane, the farm, the visuals, the work of the farm, the worms? The parliament, his kitchen, K and the confrontation? Fight? The farmer saying that he had seen a miracle and was prepared to sacrifice himself? Outside, the tree, the photos and the drones photographing?
10. Madam, her role in the LAPD, ordered, her manner, black clothes? Interviews with K? Laboratory, the photos, the close-ups, the discovery of the grave, the bones, the autopsy? Missioning K, to destroy the child? His lying to her? Her believing? His reporting back, allowing his escape? The sharing of memories with him? Luv and the confrontation, killing Madam?
11. K, his life, his apartment, walking through the city, his domestic life, his replicant and her appearance, hologram, companion, manner of speaking, cooking, serving? The change of clothes? His imagination? Her travelling with him? Entering into him, the interchange with him? His upgrading her? The sex worker in the city, coming to the apartment,
the replicant going inside the woman? The sexual encounter? The confrontation with? Her submission and death?
12. Wallace, Luv and her role, assistant, interrogations, service, martial arts? Wallace, personality, his eyes, the models and creation and coming to life, his touch? Wallace and the interview with Deckard? Rachael and her appearance, the false Rachael, her death?
13. K, in the town, the girls, the approach, the woman at his house, putting the direction finder in his pocket? Her being part of the rebels? Her care for K?
14. K, his past, the memory, recounting it, little boy, pursued, toy horse, hiding it? The factory? His going to find the horse again? Finding the young woman, her segregation, her skill in memories?
15. His being pursued, Luv, her personality, killing Madam, vengeful?
16. K and his searching for Deckard, going into the polluted area? The mansion, its interior, 20th century? The gambling, the holograms of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, the dancers? The confrontation between the two, the dog, fighting? Talking, Deckard’s explanation about the children, Rachel, altering the documents? The daughter’s surviving? The impact on K?
17. K, being taken to the rebels, the leader of the rebels and her exhortations, aims, the range of rebels? The decision to destroy Deckard?
18. K, the plane, pursuing Deckard and Luv, Deckard, handcuffs, the water, the fighting between Luv and K? Her death?
19. Deckard free, K realising he was not the son? Lying in the snow on the steps? Deckard going inside, the encounter with his daughter?
20. Themes of humans, human nature, technology, superiority, the replicants and their skills, their roles, slaves, workers, humans, control, violence? The potential for another sequel?
