Denis Villeneuve is a mastermind behind the camera...

Rating: 10/10 (9 October 2017)

I needed a few days to let this movie settle with me. Not that I thought that any part of this film was bad, actually I believe it to be a great film. Even at the very moment the ending credits hit the screen I just felt that I had seen something truly great. I loved "Blade Runner 2049" and I hope that this gets just as much love and attention as its predecessor has gotten over the years since its 1982 theatrical release. Everything about this movie I thought was executed so insanely well; from its haunting visuals to the meticulously thought out story, the editing, the acting, the direction, character development, all of it was handled with such an obsessive amount of care that I couldn't believe what I was witnessing half the time. The only reason why I hesitate to give this film a 10 out of 10 is because I'm still debating in my head whether I dreamt this up or not, because I swear there are times I felt hypnotized by Denis Villeneuve's masterpiece here.
The premise about an investigation being run by a Blade Runner named 'K' (played by Ryan Gosling), who is trying to figure out and cover up certain events that were perpetrated by a small group of replicants (machines made to appear human, but serve humans in their day to day activities) which may have also included involvement of the Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford). From there, I can't say too much more without risking any involuntary reveals.
For anyone expecting an action film then I am sorry to say, but you are heavily mistaken. This is a detective noir with a slow burn mystery, very much so like the first "Blade Runner"; only add about 45 more minutes to the run time. This is no joke of a film, it is a long movie and it takes its time to unfold its plot while simultaneously building upon the world of "Blade Runner" and the individuals that inhabit it. There are moments of action and suspense of course, running in the same vein as Ridley Scott's original, however they are just as sparsely placed as well; but it works. It all somehow works because there was not a single solitary second of this film's run time that I felt bored or had my mind wander off mid-scene. I was fully engaged in its plot and its characters and I wanted to know exactly where it was going. Sometimes the script is cryptic and vague about what is really going on and other times it is completely concrete; the filmmakers knew exactly how and when to be one or the other. Supplying enough solid answers to keep the viewer satisfied, but also leaving plenty of room to let people interpret specific aspects any way they may see fit. Which is much more difficult than it may seem to achieve.
"Blade Runner 2049" isn't afraid to ask questions that are similar to its predecessor, but severely expands on those themes to all new heights. What does it mean to be human? At what point do we as a society finally see machines as close to being human without being human? When the line is so blurred, how would we be able to tell the difference between man and replicant? Could we get to a point with technology that it surpasses even us in how human someone can be, while humanity could become as cold as machinery is? Is it love that defines having a soul or is there something more to it? The film flawlessly brings these themes up without ever feeling forced or out of place, even once. Characters that go through their own personal arcs can also be interpreted as being one thing, but after some time to ponder could be perceived in a whole new light.
The entirety of this film is carried solely on the back of Ryan Gosling and he knocks it out of the park. He has given performances that are definitely reminiscent of his role here, which there have been times in the past where it was problematic for him. Whether not supplying enough charisma or intrigue in order to reel the viewer in, luckily that isn't the case here. Yes, he gives a stoic and deadpan performance but I always felt like there was something to him. He wasn't brooding for the sake of brooding or what have you, he gives a layered performance here that is equal parts cool, funny and intense at times. He did a terrific job and I'm glad to see him, along with the rest of the cast, at the top of their game. Especially Harrison Ford, who gives his reprisal of the role as Deckard all that he's got.
There are so many more things I wish I could talk about, but I think I've said more than enough. "Blade Runner 2049" is a great sequel. It is a great film. I sadly feel that it may suffer the same fate as the original did with not being accepted right away by the mainstream audience and not doing all that fantastic financially either. Which is a shame because we don't get many great movies or sequels like this, yet when we do they bomb at the box office. We hear all the time how people want more than just another Michael Bay explosion fest, but when we are finally given a true science fiction epic with originality to spare...no one goes to see it. Hopefully in the years to come, this will be appreciated and studied alongside the first "Blade Runner" by many who see it. Preferably sooner rather than later so I'm not 55 when another long awaited sequel is released.