Blade Runner 2049’ runs away as best film of the year so far

Erik Jimenez/Contributing Writer

When the original “Blade Runner” came out in 1982, the film was a box office flop.  Initially receiving mixed reviews, many criticized the slow pace and emphasis on special effects. Others praised its story, characters, score and the production design that remains influential to filmmakers today.

The film soon gained a cult after Director Ridley Scott re-released multiple versions of the film under his supervision, adding extra scenes and developing the “Blade Runner” world further. Critics began praising the film as the science fiction masterpiece we know it as today.

I am one of the fans of “Blade Runner” that was disinterested when I heard that a sequel was in development. It felt like the story did not need a continuation. “Blade Runner” (specifically “The Final Cut” version released in 2007) is such a good film that nothing modern-day Hollywood can do can top it.

I didn’t care that Harrison Ford was returning to the franchise as his character from the original Deckard. I didn’t care that the original writer, Hampton Francher, was returning to help the script, and I especially didn’t like that Ridley Scott was returning to another one of his classic films that are essentially the reason people still consider him a good director despite his rather weak results with the “Alien” franchise in recent years.

Then Denis Villeneuve of “Sicario” and “Arrival” fame came in as director and I was hooked. Soon, the trailers came out and through their secretive marketing, I became more pumped for the film.

I am proud to say that it lived up to my hype train.

Set in Los Angeles, California, Year 2049 (30 years after the events of the first film) and after the world essentially freaked out due to the events of the first movie, Humanity banned the production of Replicants, bio-robotic androids that are virtually identical to adult humans, but have superior strength, speed, agility, resilience and intelligence to varying degrees depending on the model.

However, tensions eventually cool and a new company led by Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) start to produce newer replicants that are more obedient and won’t recreate the events of the first film. As a result, replicants are numerous and legal, yet still shunned in society and Blade Runners are still used to “retire” (kill) those older models which have more open-ended lifespans.

Ryan Gosling plays K, a replicant built for the exact purpose of being a Blade Runner. After completing a mission, he stumbles across clues that lead to evidence of a revelation that his superior, Lt. Joshi (Robin Wright) says can shatter the delicate balance between humans and replicants. He is ordered to find and destroy said evidence which leads him down a conspiracy trail that takes him straight to Richard Decker (Harrison Ford) and the possibility that the world he has known has been one gigantic lie.

I won’t get any deeper into plot details than that, but suffice it to say, this is a movie that is best going into knowing as little as possible. It actually surprised me how well the film works on a standalone basis.

But, if you haven’t seen the original “Blade Runner” before checking out “2049,” I’d recommend it because it will help you understand the world better.

And what a world it is. The 35-year gap in visual effects evolution brings the world of “Blade Runner” to a larger scale only imagined. While the visuals of the original still hold up, it’s clear that “2049” is using all the tech its massive budget could get to its best abilities.

The story is also filled with unexpected twists and turns that will keep viewers at the edge of their seat. Despite inheriting the slow pace of the original, it gives the film plenty of breathing room. The ideas of the original are expanded in this film due to the visuals and the story they are serving. The central idea of the first film–what does it mean to be human?–  are brought to the forefront.  As a result, the film provides a richer experience.

The acting is solid all around. Ryan Gosling is great as K and every bit as good as Harrison Ford in the original. Speaking of Ford, he fits back into the role of Richard Deckard as well as he does with Indiana Jones or Han Solo; it’s like he never left. But the breakout performance goes to Ana de Armas as Joi, who is essentially K’s holographic girlfriend, but does so much with her performance. She had me questioning just how real her emotions are towards K. It’s a great fit for a best supporting Actress nod at the Oscars.

“Blade Runner 2049” is a great contender for best film of the year. It’s an Oscar caliber sequel with solid acting, a thoughtful story and some of the best visuals of this decade. The cinematography alone deserves an Oscar for multi-nominee Roger Deakins who I feel will finally get one for his work in this film. It’s one of the best sequels of all-time. It’s one of the best films of the decade. And if this is the last time we see the world of “Blade Runner,” there is no better note to leave out on.

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Screen Skeptic is a column by Erik Jimenez that features reviews on the latest movies in theaters.  The views and opinions of Screen Skeptic do not reflect that of FIU Student Media’s editorial board.