Introspective and Life-Changing

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 2020)

Blade Runner 2049 is one of those rare treasures of a movie where every element of filmmaking comes together to make an unforgettable and mesmerizing experience. With visuals that are pure pleasure for the eye, and existential themes about individuality that near anyone can relate to, the power this film has is not to be underestimated. Although the slow pace may not be for everyone's taste, if one lets themselves become absorbed in the world of Blade Runner, they will find something to relate to. This is a film that is able to communicate, in a well-paced and well-acted story, just what it means to be human.
The original Blade Runner never needed a sequel. Its story ended so succinctly and on such a powerful note that a continuation should logically detract from it. But somehow, by some miracle, there not only exists a sequel to the original Blade Runner, but it actually manages to transcend the original's themes, characters, and visuals.
If any other director attempted to make a sequel, even Ridley Scott himself, I am convinced it would have been a complete disaster. However, this isn't just any filmmaker at the helm of this film. Behind the director's chair is Denis Villeneuve, the man who has made masterpiece after masterpiece with his career so far. He's mastered drama and tension with Prisoners (2013), he's tackled psychological thrillers with Enemy (2013), and he's already proven himself to be fluent in Sci-Fi with his previous mind-blowing film, Arrival (2016).
In Blade Runner 2049, all the elements that made his previous films work so well are here in full. The film centers around a Blade Runner named Officer K, played wonderfully by Ryan Gosling, who is in charge of putting down rogue androids which the predominant humans see as a threat.
Right from the general premise the film carves out its own identity with its heartbreaking irony of having the lead android assasin be an android himself. Although the main character is quiet and reserved, we get to see a lot of how he thinks and feels through his actions. When killing an android in the opening scene, he shows no visible excitement or passion. This continues for the next couple scenes as we get to see his general routine, how he's treated, and we see how he lacks initiative. He has had his soul effectively ripped out of him through the tedium and psychological torture involved with his job. K constantly being abused is what makes his proactive turn to self-discovery that occurs later on so satisfying to witness. The original film was awe-inspiring with its dissection of what it means to be human, but this film appeals to me in a whole other way. In this film, K questions not only what he is, but he also chases a more personal question: who am I?
Slow pacing permeates throughout the whole film, which allows for more time to be spent with its characters and its world. Some people may be turned off by how long certain scenes last, but I'd argue this is what makes the emotional moments hit even harder and it makes the breathtaking imagery stick with the audience even longer. When a film moves slowly, a sudden emotional jolt or revelation can feel all the more drastic and effective. Films these days seem to be afraid to stop and let audience's take something in. Even films I really enjoy are usually quick and lack any slow-pacing out of fear of boring the audience. What I appreciated about this film, and really all of Denis Villeneuve's films, is that they put faith in the audience. Villeneuve puts faith in the audience by not outright stating what the point of the movie was. Rather, the audience is left, much like the character K, to seek out meaning themselves.
For me, this film helped me realize how important life is. How, even though I'm not the most important person in the world, I can still make a difference in people's lives. It is one thing for a film to entertain or be well-made on a technical level, but it is another thing entirely for a film to change how I view life. That is something only works of art can accomplish, and Blade Runner 2049 certainly qualifies.