Weekly Review -- An ominous 2049
And wow, does it deliver. Directed by Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve, it captures the tenebrous atmosphere of the original and weaves an unexpected and moving story. It is far from perfect and it is a given that the original is forever better -- hey, we are talking about Blade Runner here -- but it is a film worthy of the name.
**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MICRO SPOILERS**
In 2049, Agent K (Ryan Gosling) is tasked with hunting down and "retiring" a previous generation of replicants. After a mission, he discovers clues that could threaten life as he knows it and that bring his existence into question. When his boss, Lieutant Joshi (Robin Wright), tasks him with burying anything that could compromise the system, K decides to keep digging...
Let me get to the best parts first. Cinematography, effects, cinematography, effects. This film is truly an experience. The big screen was invented for 2049; get ready to see it, feel it and have it linger under your skin for weeks to come. Villeneuve creates vivid and precise perfection in every single shot and the film loses most of its grandeur on the small screen any way you look at it. Roger Deakins's cinematography is a thing of scope and beauty and the production design and effects are the best that I have seen in years. Mark my words, this is next year's Academy Award winner for cinematography and visual effects, and possibly for all other technical categories. I am not sure how the filmmakers managed to make the sequel even darker than Blade Runner and this vision of the future makes me weep for humanity but, aesthetically and thematically, that is the point and I salute them. The future cannot be promising if, as shown, we successfully paint ourselves into a corner.
On that note, Villeneuve's piece introduces some bold and thought-provoking ideas regarding humans and replicants at the core of its plot. I loved all the concepts that it has set forth and here is where we get to the bad news. These ideas are larger than life and too revolutionary for a single film. They feel touched upon and never fully explored. In other words, this 2049 desperately needs 2050. Unfortunately, since box office is king in Hollywood, a sequel does not seem likely, which is a shame. In terms of the story, one of the twists was directly lifted from a recent blockbuster; if you have seen it, you will immediately know which one it is, so I do think that this twist could have been handled in a more innovative manner.
The acting is fantastic. Gosling does not have a lot of dialogue -- it certainly seems like less than Harrison Ford had in the original -- and expresses the majority of his emotions through body language. He inhabits a complex character, one as ruled by primordial curiosity as he is by weariness, and his internal conflicts are a joy to behold. Ford does not have much to do as Deckard, but we can tell that the character has seeped into his bones; he is comfortable within Deckard's jaded nuances. Carla Juri is affecting as a helpful designer of replicant memories and Dave Bautista has a poignant turn. Sylvia Hoeks is a breakout as an employee of what is essentially the new Tyrell corporation and Ana de Armas brings heart to an unusual role.
Blade Runner 2049 is a long-awaited sequel to a beloved science fiction masterpiece. As such, it was never going to necessarily be surpassing or even standing shoulder to shoulder with the original. However, it blows expectations away with its own style and notions and earns a place in the same pantheon. Villeneuve is an artist of the highest caliber and has achieved the impossible. Bravo.
8/10
posted by raindropped @ 6:49 PM
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