mysterious, unique, and enjoyable

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2018)

Following its predecessor "Blade Runner" (1982): In a futuristic Los Angeles, K (Ryan Gosling) is a replicant i.e. a bioengineered human. His job is to exterminate fellow replicants who are rebellious and refuse to accept their status as servants and slaves. He is sent on a mission to resolve a mystery of a birth many years ago.
I can remember my first reaction when I saw the classic "2001: A Space Odyssey" decades ago: I couldn't understand much of it but what I did understand, I found fascinating. I also thought the work of director of Stanley Kubrick was astounding even in the sections I did not understand. I would later appreciate "2001" in a greater way in subsequent viewings - even though some parts remain incomprehensible.
It is possible that I may feel the same about "Blade Runner 2049" some time in the future (though hopefully before 2049). Although it is more incomprehensible as a whole than "2001", each of its scenes were amazing as separate entities. This is mainly due to the film-noir vision superbly executed by director Denis Villeneuve who successfully creates a very bleak and nihilistic universe. He is greatly aided by topnotch work in cinematography, background music and especially a brilliant production design by Dennis Gassner. (It helped to have seen the film on the giant IMAX screen.)
Gosling does a fine job in the lead role. He is convincing as an emotionless being who slips occasionally into the emotional human form. But the screen is truly lit up when Harrison Ford enters the picture in the second half. He is often riveting and this might possibly be his best performance.