Directed by Denis Villeneuve, one of my favourite directors recently; starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford and Sylvia Hoeks, Blade Runner 2049 is likely my favourite movie of 2017. Just like the 1982 film, the pace of the story and action started a tad on the slow side but it really just got better and better as time passed.

Set thirty years from 2019, this sequel focuses on a young Blade Runner’s discovery of a long-buried secret that leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Ford). This may sound like a simplistic synopsis but rest assured, the story is highly engaging.

The various things I like about Villeneuve’s movie include the way Gosling’s character and all the replicants moved and fought; their general physicality was so fun to watch. I also loved the costumes. Now, this part is going to sound odd but I definitely also really enjoyed how easily the tears fell out of the eyes of the characters that cried. Why on earth, you may wonder? Well, one of the reasons is that I dislike quite intensely when tearless ‘crying’ happens on film and in life. If your tear ducts are in good working order and you produce no tears as you ‘cry’, then you’re quite simply lying. Lying through your filthy un-moistened eyeballs! And no, dehydration is not an adequate excuse!

My serious issues with ‘bad crying’ aside, the acting is really quite brilliant. For example, Jared Leto’s part is a small one but my, oh my is it memorable and impactful. The main female replicant played by Hoeks is just fantastic! I really loved her! She had such brilliant physicality and I couldn’t help but see her as a representation of a strong ‘woman’ in charge. So much so that I pretty much felt empowered throughout, just by looking at her.

Gosling’s acting range has been questioned by some people who argue that he generally plays the same moody roles over and over again. The thought hadn’t really crossed my mind until I heard this. All I can say now is, Gosling is great in Blade Runner 2049. I bought every single second of his character’s emotional journey – to the point where by the end, I felt pretty badly for him.

Villeneuve managed to capture the same moodiness and well-imagined dystopian aesthetic present in the first film, but of course, using present-day technology.

I’m so happy that I didn’t see all the story twists and turns coming. There really isn’t much about this movie that I don’t like. Of course, I must mention the stunning cinematography that’s synonymous with Villeneuve’s films.

The slowish start aside, watch it because it’s really rather good. Something tells me that I enjoyed the story even more simply because I’d only just watched the original for the first time the previous night.

Happy Film Loving,

G