"Blade Runner 2049"- A stirring and cerebral sci-fi thriller that is in every way equal to the outstanding original!

Rating: 10/10 (27 October 2017)

Over the past thirty years, Ridley Scott's iconic masterpiece "Blade Runner" has quietly reigned as a beloved and treasured cult classic in the world of science fiction. An off-kilter and introspective drama taking heavy cues from old-fashioned film noir, that original film has been long studied and analyzed, and is an oft-cited favorite film among movie enthusiasts the world over. And for very good reason, as it can function not only as a surface-level thriller, but also as a strangely complex and philosophical experience should you choose to look beneath the visuals and really take in the themes and tone.
Though the journey was most certainly not a smooth one, with the original cut of the film being butchered by studio interference and met with a general initial apathy from viewers. However, with subsequent releases, the audience and appreciation has grown on a consistent basis, and the film is now recognized rightly for all it does so well. So it should come as really no surprise that there would eventually be call for a proper follow- up to expand the universe and continue the story begun so long ago. And though I had some caution towards the film during production, producer Scott and the exquisite director Denis Villeneuve have risen to the occasion with "Blade Runner 2049"- a sharp and cerebral film in every way equal to the outstanding original.
Thirty years later. Sentient, human-liked robots known as replicants live among humanity to serve as laborers. A Blade Runner agent known as "K" (Ryan Gosling) continues to track down and 'retire' rogue Replicants who have become dangerous or volatile. However, on his most recent mission, he makes a startling discovery- the decomposed remains of a female replicant who appears to have died during childbirth- a human process long thought impossible for these artificial lifeforms. K is dispatched to solve the mystery behind this troubling development, but is pulled into a web of corruption and deceit, which will eventually lead him to the only person who might be able to help him. A former Blade Runner agent... Rick Deckard. (Harrison Ford)
"Blade Runner 2049" is a powerhouse in every conceivable sense. Villeneuve's beautiful eye for flow and composition brings to life the future world in a way few others have ever accomplished, and everything he does compliments and expands upon the concepts and motifs established in Scott's earlier film. Without doubt, this is one of the most visually arresting films of the decade, and Villeneuve continues to deliver scene after scene. Longtime fans of that original work will feel instantly at home, though the film also wisely spends enough time on its world-building to bring the uninitiated up to speed rather quickly.
The script, co-written by original writer Hampton Fancher, is beautiful and poignant in its execution and takes the series into startling new directions while never losing sight of what made these concepts and characters so special. Heady and complex themes are well developed and established, and appropriately serve as follow- ups to what came before. "Blade Runner" often dealt with issues of mortality and identity. "2049" in many ways is about legacy and acceptance. All the while complex notions and clever symbols are used to drive home the rampantly intelligent metaphors of the film. It truly is an ideal continuation from a storytelling perspective, fulfilling virtually all potential.
And the performances compliment this in the best of ways. It really is a joy to see Ford back in one of his career-defining roles, and it's fascinating to see how Deckard has changed in a person as time passes. Gosling lights up the screen in a nuanced and sensitive portrayal of a troubled agent, and I very much found myself captivated by K's thoughtful relationship with an artificially- intelligent "companion" called "Joi", played incredibly by Ana de Armas. The sort-of unnatural romance the two share builds the heart of the film and blurs the lines between the real and the artificial. And I definitely enjoyed Jared Leto in a minor but wonderfully slimy performances as Niander Wallace- the film's primary antagonistic force. It's a fascinating character despite being less hands-on, and Leto chews the scenery just right to leave a lasting impact while never making Wallace come off as silly or contrived. It's a fine balancing act.
In the end, I truly cannot recommend "Blade Runner 2049" enough. It has surpassed all potential and expectation, and I left the theater almost unable to speak while my mind continued to drift over what I had just witnessed. It is without doubt one of the year's best films and is in every single way equal to the iconic original. And it easily earns an incredibly 10 out of 10. I see it without question joining the legendary status of its predecessor and being treasured for years to come. A perfect film.