Engaging and thoughtful even if the pacing and sudden action doesn't always work

Rating: Null/10 (24 March 2018)

A very high profile film from last year, with a high profile cast and director to return to a film considered a modern classic in terms of its influence as well as its value as a film. We join the world again after many years, and follow a replicant Blade Runner chasing down older models. The specific case which opens the film leads him on the trail of what appears to be the first time a replicant has reproduced 'organically'. While 'K' tries to locate this supposed child, he is haunted by connected memories; and at the same time another replicant is dispatched by Niader Wallace to get there first.
As a narrative the film is interesting in terms of its base elements, but moreso because of how quickly it embraces the central themes which were in Blade Runner; of reality, or memory, of free-will. At first it jarred me a bit by how open it was about who was a replicant and who wasn't, but it made sense and was well framed in this world. It pushes for thoughtfulness and open questions, but manages to make it work without seeming like it is pushing too hard without justification. The pace works against it a bit, and there is really no reason for it to be as long as it is. At times it seems a bit labored in how it hangs around in silence, or spends so long to take in the vast expansion of the future landscape or building design, and it does try the patience here and there.
The time spent to take in the view is perhaps understandable though because the film looks great. The design, the scale, and the cinematography combine well. Within this the detail includes plenty of items which extend the world of the original film but yet remind us of how ahead of its time it was - aspects are exaggerated into the future perhaps, but yet remain familiar and believable as only being a few steps away from the near future. The cast are good throughout; plenty of famous faces (which is a little distracting at times) but mostly they are effective. Gosling is surprisingly good; very restrained but gives enough in the detail to offer more. Ford is more expressive than I expected, and Hoeks is a strong presence despite her frame. The cast is probably too big, and again it is a way the film could have been tighter in terms of running time.
Despite weaker elements though, it is an engaging film that gets the thoughtful tone right, and offers more than it has on the surface.