Highly Recommended

Rating: 10/10 (28 October 2017)

'BLADE RUNNER 2049' - 2017
Directed by Dennis Villeneuve{Arrival}
Starring Ryan Gosling{La La Land}, Harrison Ford{Star Wars} and Ana De Armas{War Dogs}
Plot Overview: Out of respect for how fantastic this movie is, I will not divulge ANY plot details. If you want to get a rough grasp of the film, please watch a trailer, then see the film because it is amazing.
I think the best way to start would be to voice my opinion on Ridley Scott's 1982 'masterpiece', the original Blade Runner. Keep in mind that I've not seen the Final Cut so that may factor into it, but as a whole I wasn't too impressed with Blade Runner. I don't think it was a bad film but it certainly didn't live up to my expectations. 2049 is completely the opposite. I had very high expectations from the praise this film was receiving and even THEN, it exceeded my expectations. 2049 is a movie that I predict winning some academy awards, and maybe even Best Picture. It's not often that a sequel is superior to its predecessor, but I think this may be one of those times!
So what is good about this film? Well, where do I even begin! I think that Ryan Gosling is a good place to start. Many people thought that Gosling would be awarded the Oscar for La La Land. He did not win however. But I think this year may be his year. Gosling was FANTASTIC in this film at delivering his masterful performance as Officer K. Not once was I in disbelief about his character. Not once did I not buy a single line of dialogue. He was exceptional in this film.
Accompanying Gosling is the star of Scott's film, Harrison Ford. The man; the myth; the legend. Ford gives, pretty much as usual, an excellent performance as Deckard, and is responsible for some truly gut wrenching and harrowing scenes. I love this little comeback tour Ford is going on, revisiting his classic films. And if he's as good as this in 'Air Force Two' or 'What Lies Even Further Beneath', then I think I'm gonna like this tour very much.
Ana De Armas was great as Gosling's companion, Joi. She genuinely moved me in her performance and made me care about the relationship between a man and a hologram. Armas was excellent in this film and deserves a lot more praise than she has been getting.
Sylvia Hoeks was also excellent as the rather ironically named, Luv. Hoeks gave a sinister and at point down right evil performance. I thought she was great in this movie, and played the antagonist perfectly. Speaking of which, the antagonist for 2049, which by no means erases the GREATNESS of Rutger Haur, was a fairly interesting and conniving villain. In a weird way, she is justified, and I like that freedom to interpretation that Villeneuve provides.
Now for something that, if I had the film in front of me, could be analysed and analysed for days at a time: the technical side of this movie. Blade Runner 2049 is, without a doubt, one of the best looking movies of the 21st century, maybe even one of the best of the past 30 years. Villeneuve's direction is absolutely flawless. The jaw dropping visuals are absolute delights to behold. The camera work and framing is out of this world. The editing is perfectly concise. Even the visual effects look sensational. I swear to God, if Roger Deakins does not FINALLY win an Oscar for this movie, then there is NO justice in this sorry excuse for a world. The academy has been ducking Deakins for FAR TOO long and that needs to change. Please Academy, give the man what he deserves!!!!
Another thing I absolutely loved in this film was the absolutely riveting and intense story. I'm going to restrain myself from divulging any plot details because you really need to experience this film blind to the plot. But let me tell you, the plot is absolutely sensational in every sense of the word. I loved every single line of dialogue uttered, and I honestly think this film could win best original screenplay, or at least get nominated. The themes that are present are on par with the amazing themes present in Ridley Scott's movie. It is just, simply put, a fantastic movie.
If you can't tell, I absolutely loved Blade Runner 2049. It's got my vote for Best Picture and, while it just quite get to be my favourite film of the year, it certainly gets my vote for the best. I HIGHLY recommend that you see Blade Runner 2049. I'll rate it 10 'Wooden Horses' out of 10!