Blade Runner (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
It's 2019 & the world has changed in 'Blade Runner' (directed by Ridley Scott, of Alien). Los Angeles has 400-story skyscrapers; advertisers beam their products on video billboards & blimps; the hectic, polluted streets are perpetually rain-slickened. This is the vision of a dystopic tomorrow. 4 "replicants" (genetically-engineered humans with a 4-yr. lifespan designed for off-world military & industrial labor) have escaped from an outer space colony, are at loose in the city, & are not allowed on Earth. Meant for space exploration only, they include Roy (Rutger Hauer), Leon (Brion James), Pris (Darryl Hannah), & Zhora (Joanna Cassidy).
Considered highly dangerous, their leader, Roy, has one main goal: prolong his life past the 4 yr. limit (he wishes to live as long as any human). Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh), the Capt. of the police, calls upon Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), an ex-cop & "blade runner" (bounty hunters who hunt down & destroying replicants who violate the law) to exterminate them. Deckard utilizes the latest police gadgetry available to him: spinners (flying cars), espers (computers that enable officers to search environments without entering them), & new age lie detector machines (which measures contractions of the iris can separate humans from replicants).
Deckard's 1st step in tracking down the 4 replicant killers is to stop at the place where they were created, Tyrell Industries. There, Deckard meets Rachael (Sean Young). He tests her & discovers that she is a 'manufactured' human. She's been programmed with someone else's memories & is as shocked by this discovery as he is. Later, Rachael becomes an unexpected ally in Deckard's quest to find the 4 outlaw replicants, but when Bryant learns that she's on the loose, he orders Deckard to "retire" her, as well. This, of course, proves problematic; as Deckard finds has fallen in love with her; despite knowing what she really is. Drama ensues.
The main ethical question posed by 'Blade Runner' has been a big one in science fiction forever ... what is life? The replicants eat, drink, make love, think, feel & die. But do they have souls? The question of whether or not the replicants are 'alive' echoes themes from countless book, movies, & the like since the dawn of the genre.
Deckard is an interesting, enigmatic "hero". He's still capable of getting the job done, but he's also somewhat ambivalent; a reluctant cop. And his reluctance becomes more apparent as the film unfolds. He's not the blade runner he used to be. Furthermore, without Rachael's help, he would likely have been killed by the 4 replicants right off the bat. So Deckard's vulnerability & weakness is what makes him, as a character, a unique hero. The only other characters of note are Rutger Hauer as Roy & Daryl Hannah as Pris. Both exude danger while maintaining a mercurial air. Their characters feel alive, even though they aren't human.
I also liked that the final show-down btwn. Deckard & Roy is atypical of an action flick. SPOILER: Usually, the formula requires that these 2 engage in a struggle before Deckard kills Roy. But in this fight, Deckard is the loser, & Roy saves him! The two wind up spending Roy's last hours together, waiting for his 4 yr. life to end. So you ask, why does Roy save Deckard? Perhaps Roy doesn't want to die alone. Deckard is the only one who will stay with him. This, of course, argues for the "humanity" of the replicants. I mean, what's more human than not wanting to die alone? END SPOILER.
The look & feel of 'Blade Runner' is it's obvious strong suit. Jordan Cronenweth's cinematography is wonderfully evocative -- haunting, even. 'Blade Runner' takes place in darkness & rain. The film noir influences are evident, but so are the sci-fi ones. The mixture of high technology (air cars) & poverty (fires in trash cans) result in indelible images. And that's a credit to Lawrence G. Paull's exceptional production design; creating that dystopic new world. The costumes are unique. The make-up work looks like nothing I'd seen previously seen in a futuristic movie. The special effects team helped make this film inherently interesting on a visual level. And finally, the music by composer Vangelis (who won an Oscar for Chariots of Fire) is eerily compelling & highly memorable.
You know, the film does have its flaws. The love story btwn. Deckard & Rachael isn't great; in some part because Ford & Young need to underplay their roles (being the misanthropic blade runner, & the otherworldly replicant). Separately, I liked their portrayals. It's just that the romance is pivotal to the story (emphasizing the foggy line btwn. mankind & replicants), but the duo lack passion together. Ridley Scott continues to impress with his out-of-the-ordinary sci-fi adventures. And 'Blade Runner' is a great addition to the genre because as gorgeous as the film is, there's also a lot going on beneath the shiny surface.
Considered highly dangerous, their leader, Roy, has one main goal: prolong his life past the 4 yr. limit (he wishes to live as long as any human). Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh), the Capt. of the police, calls upon Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), an ex-cop & "blade runner" (bounty hunters who hunt down & destroying replicants who violate the law) to exterminate them. Deckard utilizes the latest police gadgetry available to him: spinners (flying cars), espers (computers that enable officers to search environments without entering them), & new age lie detector machines (which measures contractions of the iris can separate humans from replicants).
Deckard's 1st step in tracking down the 4 replicant killers is to stop at the place where they were created, Tyrell Industries. There, Deckard meets Rachael (Sean Young). He tests her & discovers that she is a 'manufactured' human. She's been programmed with someone else's memories & is as shocked by this discovery as he is. Later, Rachael becomes an unexpected ally in Deckard's quest to find the 4 outlaw replicants, but when Bryant learns that she's on the loose, he orders Deckard to "retire" her, as well. This, of course, proves problematic; as Deckard finds has fallen in love with her; despite knowing what she really is. Drama ensues.
The main ethical question posed by 'Blade Runner' has been a big one in science fiction forever ... what is life? The replicants eat, drink, make love, think, feel & die. But do they have souls? The question of whether or not the replicants are 'alive' echoes themes from countless book, movies, & the like since the dawn of the genre.
Deckard is an interesting, enigmatic "hero". He's still capable of getting the job done, but he's also somewhat ambivalent; a reluctant cop. And his reluctance becomes more apparent as the film unfolds. He's not the blade runner he used to be. Furthermore, without Rachael's help, he would likely have been killed by the 4 replicants right off the bat. So Deckard's vulnerability & weakness is what makes him, as a character, a unique hero. The only other characters of note are Rutger Hauer as Roy & Daryl Hannah as Pris. Both exude danger while maintaining a mercurial air. Their characters feel alive, even though they aren't human.
I also liked that the final show-down btwn. Deckard & Roy is atypical of an action flick. SPOILER: Usually, the formula requires that these 2 engage in a struggle before Deckard kills Roy. But in this fight, Deckard is the loser, & Roy saves him! The two wind up spending Roy's last hours together, waiting for his 4 yr. life to end. So you ask, why does Roy save Deckard? Perhaps Roy doesn't want to die alone. Deckard is the only one who will stay with him. This, of course, argues for the "humanity" of the replicants. I mean, what's more human than not wanting to die alone? END SPOILER.
The look & feel of 'Blade Runner' is it's obvious strong suit. Jordan Cronenweth's cinematography is wonderfully evocative -- haunting, even. 'Blade Runner' takes place in darkness & rain. The film noir influences are evident, but so are the sci-fi ones. The mixture of high technology (air cars) & poverty (fires in trash cans) result in indelible images. And that's a credit to Lawrence G. Paull's exceptional production design; creating that dystopic new world. The costumes are unique. The make-up work looks like nothing I'd seen previously seen in a futuristic movie. The special effects team helped make this film inherently interesting on a visual level. And finally, the music by composer Vangelis (who won an Oscar for Chariots of Fire) is eerily compelling & highly memorable.
You know, the film does have its flaws. The love story btwn. Deckard & Rachael isn't great; in some part because Ford & Young need to underplay their roles (being the misanthropic blade runner, & the otherworldly replicant). Separately, I liked their portrayals. It's just that the romance is pivotal to the story (emphasizing the foggy line btwn. mankind & replicants), but the duo lack passion together. Ridley Scott continues to impress with his out-of-the-ordinary sci-fi adventures. And 'Blade Runner' is a great addition to the genre because as gorgeous as the film is, there's also a lot going on beneath the shiny surface.