A subtle killer.

Rating: Null/10 (16 October 2006)

It's true that this movie was not critically acclaimed by the Hollywood press, but I'll be the first to say that this is not your typical Hollywood movie (no matter which cut you watch). However, this movie was celebrated by the foreign presses as well as the off beat movie critics. The reason why these sources praise this movie are not for the obvious mainstream storytelling devices that it doesn't use, but for the subtle grace and style of narrative that it employs through out.
First off, the action in this movie, which for a science fiction piece is bordering on non-existent, is so layered with style that we tend to forget that what we are watching would be, if filmed in a typical mainstream way, not only thrilling but also jilting to the conscience because of its violent nature. However, because such style and finesse is implemented in the filming it is almost missed. This happens due two reasons. One, the entire film is extremely darkly lit, but the action scenes (except for the final scene) are all well lit which separates them from the rest of the narrative to the degree that they become isolated in our viewing experience so much so that they are subverted to the backs of our minds, to be nearly forgotten. Two, when the first action scene occurs with Deckard in the mix, it is played out in a slow motion sequence with eerily peaceful slow- jazz horns playing, so that the violence almost becomes a thing of beauty to be savored like a work of art that captures your soul.
The lighting (or lack there of) and the music play significant roles in all the remaining remaining action sequences. In fact, they build in a reverse crescendo which effectively highlights by way of isolation the movie's crescendo, and thus bringing film to a thrilling conclusion of both aesthetics and action.
Definitely what I would call a neo-noir-thriller classic!