An old-fashioned detective story with a sci-fi twist

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 2015)

This atypical science fiction flick engages the brain instead of the senses, resulting in a film which feels more like an art-house experience than your typical Hollywood money maker. Seeing it as a kid, I hated it, expecting another STAR WARS. Instead what I got was a dark, gritty and downbeat film noir with little action to recommend it and a rather slow storyline. Now, as an adult, having seen the director's cut, I can confirm that this is truly a great movie with plenty of subtexts, strong themes and surprising plot twists to keep you watching through the slow spots. Visually the film is a treat, with Ridley Scott continuing his dank vision of the future from ALIEN and transporting it from space to Earth. The special effects are great, but the best thing of all is that the film isn't trashy. Scott doesn't let technology distract us from the strong detective storyline, doesn't stage any flashy laser gun battles or flying chases.
The (short) action sequences are dark and dirty with an emphasis on realism. Fighters bleed here, and copiously. The chase through the house at the end of the film is great stuff and the film doesn't skimp on violence either. Harrison Ford, our hero, shoots fleeing women in the back and is nearly killed on numerous instances until chance saves him. This isn't a thrill-a-minute shoot-em-up at all. In fact it's quite different and difficult to describe, feeling strangely old-fashioned despite the futuristic setting and premise. The script is fantastic and there are moments of true poetry to enjoy – especially Rutger Hauer's death scene at the end of the film which is one of the landmarks of cinema. Ford is grungy and miserable as the investigating "blade runner" and somehow his world-weary performance fits the bill nicely. The supporting cast of androids is fantastic – Hauer is at his prime, Sean Young is heartbreaking, Daryl Hannah mischievously evil, Brion James is a brutal thug, Joanna Cassidy just plain weird.
There are plenty of other nicely subtle performances here too. William Sanderson (FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE) as weird toy maker and geneticist J.F. Sebastien is memorably odd and Edward James Olmos is a mysterious cop who seems to know everything. Add in plenty of supporting regulars, tons of atmosphere and suspense and the unpredictable, original narrative, plus the original storyline from sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick, and you have a great slice of celluloid drama.