Blade Runner (1982)
The first time I saw Blade Runner, I liked it but had issues with the film. Subsequent viewings allow you to recognize it for what it is; an atmospheric, subtle and intelligent science fiction film that deserves every accolade it receives.
Set in the then-futuristic 2019, retired police officer Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a “blade runner”, an officer who specializes in finding and destroying "replicants". Illegal on Earth, these androids are physically indistinguishable from adult humans but are far stronger and only live for about 4 years. Their short lifespan limits their emotional maturity and they can turn violent when confronted with hypothetical questions, grief, anger or other extreme conditions. Deckard is on the trail of four Replicants who have come to Earth seeking to extend their lifetimes.
This movie has been dissected time and time again. If you want to know more about its complex themes, you can find someone far more qualified than I to discuss them. Instead, let me tell you why, after only two viewings, I've fallen in love with Blade Runner (the "Final Cut” in case you're wondering. First, the look. Director Ridley Scott sets the right mood right away by beginning high above the futuristic Los Angeles skyline. The word that best describes it is "endless". The pyramid-like buildings, the televised advertisements, the traffic overhead. It's grandiose from above but wet, dirty, and crowded from street level.
Despite the flying cars, androids/gynoids, and synthetic animals, nothing about this feature is presented as fantastic, which makes it feel authentic. Flying cars are like today's smartwatches. Not everyone has one. Most people lead menial lives, barely affected by the far-out technology. They bought the crummy knock-off or found a way to graft the new doodads onto their existing stuff instead.
The easy way to convey the information about replicants, the future, the themes of humanity, and of oppressive corporate control would have been via a rookie joining Deckard and having everything explained to them. Instead, the picture takes its time and assumes you're bright enough to come to your own conclusions about what's happening. If the movie feels slow, it is but there's plenty there to see either in the sets, the characters or the way they interact. It’s paced naturally, realistically. Deckard must do actual detective work and sift through mundane clues to find his targets. The way he goes about his search is no different from everyone else we see. He's world-weary and trudges on like he couldn’t care less if today is his last day. It's the opposite of the Replicants, who are so desperate to extend their lives that they risk certain death on Earth to change their fates. You can’t see these nuances unless you’re paying attention, really looking at everyone's reactions and asking questions. This is a movie that demands to be viewed multiple times, analyzed, and discussed with others for you to figure out exactly what's going on. It's not that the plot is confusing, it's that a lot is happening beneath the surface. You risk missing out if you come in with the wrong expectations.
The more I think about Blade Runner, the more it fascinates me. There are details I’ve heard others bring up that I missed completely, and yet my experience felt complete. Then again, I want to see those bread crumbs that other people picked up on, so I feel compelled to watch it again. Blade Runner didn't do well at the box office upon release but it has never faded away because, in time, we realized what we had on our hands. Don't miss out. (Final Cut version on the big screen, February 1, 2015)
