Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Jared Leto, Ana De Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, and Dave Bautista
Plot Synopsis: Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a new blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who's been missing for 30 years.
The film opens with a text screen bringing you up to speed to this sequel of the 80's sci-fi cult classic Blade Runner, an adaptation of Phillip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep?" To not spoil the film I will only touch slightly on the story itself and talk more about how much of a MASTERPIECE this film is.
Our protagonist as stated above is a "blade runner." Law enforcement who's job it is to hunt down and "retire" (execute) rogue androids known as replicants. Mostly previous models that have outlived their warranty and are now roaming the world working normal jobs like you and I. Now if you are not familiar with the previous film or book, you may not know that these androids are humanoid in every way you can possibly imagine. They live, they breathe, they eat, they bleed and they can age and die. It's worth pointing out that this element is what makes this tale such a compelling story. We are forced the question the value of life and the importance of having a "soul," which is a plot point they delve very deep into.
I digress, the film starts with officer K (Gosling) retiring an old model android that poses to him the importance I spoke of prior. Gosling at his stoic best (much akin to his performances in Only God Forgives and Drive) carries this film like a champion. The dialogue between him and his costars is heavy and dark. Not once was there a line that I wish was differently scripted. Penned by one of the co-screenwriters of the original, it's very easy to see how well they stick the formula that has worked before. A- on the writing, top notch.
After retiring said android, we see him return to police headquarters for a post mission interrogation and debriefing with his commanding officer played by none other than Princess Buttercup herself, Robin Wright. All of the actors shine, but one thing that grabbed me in the transition of these 2 scenes as well as all of the film was the grandiose nature of the world they are in. Each sweeping shot of either a drab post apocalyptic wasteland or the glowing neon lights of LA were awe inspiring. Director Denis Villeneuve's vision not only captured the amazing world Ridley Scott brought to life years ago, but it mesmerized you. This isn't the over the top blockbuster you want to buy popcorn and turn your brain off. This is a beautifully epic film that makes you never want to look away.
Not to break down each scene, I will just push forward and praise some new faces I have not seen in film and some classic ones. Ana de Armas plays Gosling's love interest. A holographic AI who can change her outfit at the slightest whim. Her coy performance is stellar and the relationship between her and Gosling is so fully fleshed and palpable that brings you to question is a relationship between a man and woman so different than that could be between a man and computer program? Again biting at the overarching story K. Dick posed in his novel. Academy Award winner Jared Leto villain portrayal is amazingly creepy and forthright. Harrison's revisit to the role of Deckard is more than just the fan service we received in The Force Awakens. This is an emotional undertaking that reminds you that he is more than just the charming smuggler, but an extremely capable actor, even in the twilight of his career. The breakout performance of the film though goes to newcomer Sylvia Hoeks in the role of Leto's muscle. An android whose cold and deliberate actions making her one of the most unforgettable villains of recent years.
The score is superb. Hans Zimmer is at his finest, and borrowing and nodding to the original throughout the film made the film fanboy in me giddy as a school girl. From the amazing cinemetography, top notch acting, strong screenplay, and awesomely supporting score, this is a runaway for my pick of best film of the year.
I don't get a chance to see many films in theaters, but if I was to suggest seeing any movie on the big screen this year, this would be it. The only negative I could take away from this film is it's 163 minute runtime, but even with that said, there's no point where the film drags unnecessarily. The action delivers, the story is compelling, the emotion is real and the performances will have you locked in. So stop reading, order your ticket, and go catch one of the better flicks of the past 5 years.
This film is black guy approved, a solid 4.5 stars out of 5.
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