Questionable

Rating: 5/10 (22 July 2001)

Blade Runner has received mainly above average reviews from critics and has become somewhat of a classic with time. I recently watched this film and am wondering why.
Not that I didn't like it...I actually find some levels of brilliance in the film, especially for what period of time it was shown in theaters. However, what was brilliant to me was visual. What wasn't was the story behind it.
Harrison Ford, Sean Young, and M. Emmet Walsh had good acting performances; otherwise, the acting was not too special to me. If you want good acting in a similar film to this...watch Haley Joel Osment in AI (I use similar loosely.). Overall, acting was good, though. Cinematography, special effects, and music were dark, mysterious, and very appropriate. However, the plot was muddled.
Perhaps this blurry storyline was what was intended. But, while watching the film, I became rather nonchalant to the characters. I didn't take sides in the film, and close to end, I simply didn't care (with the exception of the one brilliant scene with Sean Young, who suddenly became very philosophical). Overall, I found the movie too mysterious. If it was trying to say something, I to this day have no idea what the intent was. The ending (Director's Cut version) was weak to me. Honestly, it didn't do anything for me.
Special effects are a tool to be used appropriately in movies; however, I think in this film, they became the overpowering appeal. The human/Replicant storyline didn't fulfill its role. This is unfortunate because I think this film has the potential to be a masterpiece. Unfortunately, chances of this are as dark as the city of L.A. in 2019.
5/10