*****
On a routine mission to retire an old model of replicant, LAPD Agent K uncovers a secret with the potential to overthrow the fragmented remnants of society. Determined to solve the mystery, he sets out to find Rick Deckard, a former Blade Runner who hasn't been seen in thirty years...
Call me a cynic, but when I first heard that Blade Runner was to receive a sequel, I groaned aloud - are standalone films not allowed anymore, I wondered? I was still more perturbed upon hearing that Ryan Gosling being cast (not a huge fan, I'll admit), and decided there and then that I wouldn't be going to see it. Having been introduced to the original as 'an absolute classic' by my parents, I felt that it didn't need a follow-up story... But then I found myself reading a wealth of positive reviews, and even the afore-mentioned parental units confirmed that they had indeed enjoyed the second foray into the dystopian future. So, I went.
And I am pleased to report that I am so relieved that I overcame by prejudices and went along, because Blade Runner 2049 is one of my films of the year. Paying respectful homage to the original through the eerie soundtrack and truly striking imagery, Denis Villeneuve builds upon the foundations of the first and creates something equally immersive, troubling and philosophical. I didn't know the exact premise of the story going in, and I won't reveal it here either, but I would advise you to go knowing as little about it as possible - it just makes for a more enjoyable watch. Steeped in the same uneasy tension of Ridley Scott's predecessor, Blade Runner 2049 captures that same noir-esque mystery, whilst matching the outbreaks of disturbing violence. The world created here is undeniably bigger than that explored in the first, but it nonetheless manages to feel strangely intimate, largely thanks to the slow, considered pace and ponderous close-ups. It cannot be denied that the pace is at times as slow as Ryan Gosling's walking (seriously, he never goes anywhere very fast), but at no point did I feel bored or become aware of how long I had been sitting there.
Similarly, I didn't find Ryan Gosling to be a bad choice either. Playing to his strengths (a limited speaking part and a focus on his performance of a physical nature), Denis Villeneuve brings out a character that is both angry and sad, searching for a meaning in a world where nothing now grows. Supported by a series of nuanced female roles (Robin Wright, Ana de Armas and Sylvia Hoeks making up the cast list), Gosling actually manages the majority of the film alone, and it makes for an emotive performance. Even Harrison Ford, reviving his role as Deckard, does well - renouncing the sarcasm of the younger detective in place of a man haunted by the past.
Haunting, emotive, immersive and at times brutal, Blade Runner 2049 is a worthy successor to the original. Visually striking and accompanied by a score that's both terrifying and oddly soothing, each scene in this dystopian sequel accumulates into a considered masterpiece with much to enjoy. And, whilst 'the twist' is arguably obvious, Denis Villeneuve effortlessly cements his reputation as one of the great filmmakers of our time.
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