Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 is a gorgeous creation with stunning visuals, incredible cinematography, great performances, a brilliant score and jaw-dropping effects. Ryan Gosling is excellent as protagonist K and standout supporting roles from Robin Wright and Ana de Armas help to elevate proceedings, while an early appearance from Dave Bautista adds much to the opening of the film. Nearly every component of the Blade Runner sequel, released 35 years on from the original, is perfect. But here's the stinger... I was left underwhelmed and more than a little disappointed. 

For all the stylistic flourishes and gorgeous landscapes revealed throughout the film, it felt like there was very little depth to what was going on. The story, without revealing anything, is rather slim, especially when stretched over a near three hour running time. And this is 2049's biggest problem.  

It is a hugely bloated beast with so much padding in the middle stretch that it had pretty much lost me by the time the credits rolled. I don't understand how people are justifying the film's mammoth length, with some scenes feeling so utterly pointless and devoid of any meaning that I grew more and more impatient.

I mean, am I the only one just not getting it? The film currently sits at a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and was released to an absolute cascade of 5 star reviews and buzz words like "masterpiece". I've already seen people discussing it as one of the best sequels ever created. Seriously? I can't see a film hampered so greatly by such a spotty narrative being lauded this highly for years to come. 

It's not like I went into the film wanting to hate it. Quite the opposite. After all, director Denis Villeneuve has a fantastic track record, delivering several of my favourite films of the last few years including Arrival, Sicario and Prisoners. One of the best directors working today, he seemed like the perfect choice to deliver a stylish sequel to one of the best loved sci-fi epics of all time. But I was left feeling disappointed after all the faith I'd put into Villeneuve and the calibre of his past work.

Now, this may sound confusing but I really didn't like Villeneuve directing on this basically unlimited blockbuster budget. In contrast to the subtle beauty and mind-bending intelligence of last year's Arrival, 2049 just ended up feeling a little bit soulless. His previous work had a recognisable style and distinct aesthetic but I'm struggling to put my finger on what holds the visuals of his latest film together. 

Don't get me wrong though, Blade Runner 2049 is an incredible spectacle to witness. Vast cityscapes plastered with monolithic skyscrapers and swathes of huge billboards (did they go a little too crazy with the product placement perhaps?) are contrasted by broad expanses of raw, ravaged landscapes that stretch far into the distance. 

But the issue with all of this was that, despite crafting these amazing locations and shooting them with incredible results, with much credit due to legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins (will he finally get his much deserved Oscar?), the majority of the film takes place in dark, gloomy interiors that lacked much of the visual spectacle of the exterior sequences. Compared to the extensive world-building of the original, 2049 felt like a bit of a wasted opportunity.

Gosling is, as mentioned previously, brilliant as the sullen center of the film and he carries the action well, delivering a Drive-esque masterclass in dark, brooding performances. In terms of Harrison Ford's role though, I felt it would have been far better if they'd kept his appearance a secret and excluded it from all the pre-release marketing; his entrance would have had much more of an impact and been a great surprise. 

I've been deliberately avoiding talking about Jared Leto's role as Niander Wallace, basically Eldon Tyrell 2.0, because I hated his performance. I despised every scene he appeared in (thankfully he only appeared a handful of times) and this is another case of Leto being Leto and trying to be the center of attention in every film he's in. If I wasn't done with him after his absolutely horrific role in Suicide Squad, I'm definitely finished with him now.

The score, composed by Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer, is a major standout though, playing an absolutely pivotal role in creating the atmosphere of the futuristic, dystopian world. The nightmarish blend of epic booming hits and grandiose synth chords is striking and adds much to the more dramatic sequences. 

Blade Runner 2049 is a highly ambitious and stylistic film that thrives when exploring the dense futuristic world and building on the dystopian atmosphere the original crafted so expertly. It's a shame then to see such skilled filmmaking spoiled by a half-baked story that isn't suited to a film of this length. Gosling and co. impress and the score is fantastic but I was ultimately left disenchanted. I'll be sticking with the original for now.