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| Edited By: Rucha Sharma |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Oct 05, 2017, 10:41 PM IST
Film: Blade Runner 2049
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista.
Director: Denis Villeneuve
The story of the dystopian world of Blade Runner 2049 picks up 30 years after the original one. The human problem of rogue Replicants (slave humanoids designed and artificially created to do the off-world tasks for mankind) continues to pester. As many of us might have seen in the short films released before the movie, that since 2019 (in the film timeline) a lot of things have changed. But hunting down Replicants is still a priority and Officer K (Ryan Gosling) is one of the best ones they have.
K lives a boring cop life save for his love for Joi (Ana de Armas). But when he stumbles upon a mystery, his world changes upside down. He questions his past, present, and future. While searching for answers, he finds Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), crosses path with the perfect Replicant, Luv (Sylvia Hoeks), made by Niander Wallace (Jared Leto). What unfolds then is the story of Blade Runner 2049.
Denis Villeneuve's last movie was Arrival - a sci-fi movie nominated for multiple Oscars. The shots in that movie are breathtaking. Now when we have Villeneuve collaborate with the legendary Roger Deakins, every frame of Blade Runner 2049 becomes beautiful. From the crushing chaos of Los Angeles' bottom-dwelling life to the eerie serenity that comes from the reflection of water in Wallace's chamber, one can freeze each frame and write a thesis on it!
Then comes the music. Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer make sure you are aware of the dystopian nature of the story, the fragility of the lives of these characters. It stays closer to the tones picked by Vangelis for the first movie. The perfectly timed inclusion of Elvis Presley's 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and Frank Sinatra's 'One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)' add extra flavour to the story.
Ryan Gosling's face is the most featured item in the movie. He lives up to the challenge of acting his ass off and hold the screen. His anguish and pain feel real just as his disappointment and content.
Harrison Ford does a good job of passing the baton to the young guns like he did in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Do not be alarmed. Spoiler Alert - He gets to live in this one.
Jared Leto redeems himself after the disaster of playing Joker in Suicide Squad. His Niander Wallace is philosophical yet bone chillingly practical. Thanks to CBFC, we will have to let go of a good chunk of his small role. We shall wait for Blu-Ray release. Trust me, it will be worth it.
Ana de Armas and Sylvia Hoeks make their presence felt in this Gosling movie. Won't give away a lot about their roles because of the risk of spoiling the plot. But do pay close attention to Armas' hands when she is with Gosling.
The speed of the movie. Editing needed to be crisp. When things are in motion, in an IMAX setting, you can feel that you are moving with the characters. But when the characters are contemplating or travelling, one can take a quick power nap. Agreed that after 35 years, Villeneuve wants to introduce a new audience to the cult and for that, he needs to do a lot of explaining. Wish there was another way of bringing the noobs up to speed because asking to remain seated for 2 hours 43 minutes may be too much!
You have to watch it!
