A rich, contemplative, but ultimately lesser sequel to "Blade Runner"

Rating: 8/10 (7 November 2017)

I am a fan of the original "Blade Runner": its groundbreaking work on visual sci-fi is an incredible achievement, even though it's a tad overestimated on its conceptual aspects. On the contrary, "2049" lacks a true stylistic coherence but it's much richer in ideas and its interesting (although slow to the excess) pace in the first half is then replaced with too much standard blockbuster action in the second. "2049" can hardly be considered a true sequel to the original, as it brings out a world of its own: a very different -if extremely beautiful- cinematography, that ultimately hides, behind the constant layers of smog and fog, an inferior attention to stylistic details. The amazing world where Deckard moves is only hinted at with a couple of great shots, but there's lack of the subtle pop culture elements that make the original a work of genius. The same could be said for the music score: while Vangelis's electronic compositions were spot on to channel the mood of futuristic Los Angeles, Zimmer's is a more generic series of sounds without melody that increase the sense of unease very well, but without the same personality. Gosling, coming from the success of "La La Land" is a great lead and the cast as a whole is filled with superstars and unexpected returns, more or less welcome; Villeneuve has always worked in the realm of the cryptic and profound, and with "2049" he does it again, simply not matching the original's uniquely personal style.
8/10