great focus on details, less of a focus on action

Rating: 7/10 (6 May 2019)

In reviewing the film Blade Runner, made in 1982, it is interesting to look at the time period it was meant to portray. It was made to be set in 2019, and it being 2019 currently makes this movie appealing to look into. Even though this movie did not accurately predict what present day society would be like, the movie did an amazing job of portraying a futuristic society. From immense skyscrapers to flying cars to replicants of people, the audience is made to believe this alternate universe will exist in the future regardless of when this future may be. This movie largely focuses on this in depth future and details of the society and less on conflict between characters. The movie does not have as much action as I was expecting considering that Harrison Ford's, Deckard's, mission was to eliminate the existing replicants on Earth. Personally, I thought the build up to conflict between characters was slow because of the large focus on setting the mood for the film and society. The setting of this movie was gloomy and mysterious. This is set through the constant rain and dim lighting in the film. Since most of the movie is dark and in the shadows, the points of the movie that are illuminated show their importance in regards to a visual appeal. I also feel like the characters add to the mood of the movie in a beneficial way. Deckard's mindset and personality in the movie is very bland which may stem from the idea presented at the end of the movie. Other characters like Tyrell also seem very emotionless in the film. His role as an intellectual and designer of the replicants is accurately portrayed through his bland emotion. Another way the tone is set in the movie is through the soundtrack. The majority of the music in the film contains a saxophone and does a very good job at portraying mystery along with showing the goal of Deckard trying to complete his mission. This music combined with the characters as well as the tone portrayed through the setting contribute to the gloomy society that is meant to be depicted. I personally think that this mood is executed well and I think that these features are the highlights of the movie.