Between Sci-Fi Thriller and "Film Noir", a masterpiece.

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2001)

Ridley Scott was 45 years old when his fifth movie was released in 1982. After 19 years of public life 'Blade Runner' is considered a 'cult movie' transcending the genre becoming a classic. The plot may seem a little bit simple at first sight however 'Blade Runner' raises some of the most fundamental questions flirting with existentialism as well as humanism. If the movie was inspire by Philip K. Dick's novel: 'Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep', the realization of the scenario differed completely. The story takes place in a dark and urban near future where Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford best role) is a blade runner, a cop and has been asked to retire/kill 4 replicants who escaped from an obscure space colony, have hijacked a space ship to return home back on earth (where they have been declared illegal) seeking for their 'maker'(the charismatic Joe Turkel). The mission turns out much more difficult than expected. The 4, soon 5 replicants are not 'computers' they are 'physical' (Human made by Human through genetic manipulation I assume). They have great intelligence and superior physical abilities and resistance. They are looking for answers and are determine to get them what ever it takes. Their questioning will become ours: What makes us human? Are we human from birth in other words by essence? Or do we become human with what we do, through what we achieve? Who is a human being? Rick Deckard who tracks down Zhora (the beautiful Joanna Cassidy) or the tragic Zhora who after a stressful hunt seems suddenly so close to us when being shot down, frozen in an everlasting slow motion made of shattering glasses. Roy Batty who discovers his own humanity when facing his last trial, the only trial he will never win: death ; or Eldon Tyrel who plays God but has forgotten to play Human? Maybe 'memories' is the clue we are looking for? But what kind of memory and whose memory? Sure my memory (personal or common) is part of what makes me act as a human being but doesn't it alienates me like a trauma alienates a patient? So love has to be the ultimate clue. But in that case what kind of love? The love that shows Deckard to Rachael (the enigmatic Sean Young) made of sarcasm and bitterness or the love shared by the powerful Roy Batty (the awesome Rutger Hauer) and the wild Pris (best role ever for Daryl Hannah)? What feeling shows more humanity? The kiss made of tears that Roy lives on Pris's cold lips. Or the one that Deckard stills from Rachael after making her uncomfortable? Ridley Scott lives the answers to each and every one of us. Once again (Alien 1979) he has created a fantastic atmosphere made of dark streets, flying cars, post modern buildings, flame burst in a black sky, everything blend in a powerful and spiritual music written by the talented Vangelis. Once again he had the right actors: Edward James Olmos as the ambiguous Gaff, William Sanderson playing the pathetic and naive J. F. Sebastian or Bryan James as the powerful and hopeless Leon. In this environment the so call humans behave like 'soulless machines' and the so call machines are searching for their soul discovering their humanity. This masterpiece is and was directed as an 'initiatic journey'. We'll understand that what we look for and what we found is ourselves.