Set thirty years after the events of Ridley Scott’s original, Blade Runner 2049 straps us in to run alongside LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling) as he works a case in this neo-noir, thriller, sci-fi and almost western, genre hybrid.
In the hands of director Denis Villeneuve, this cinematic feast for the eyes incorporates new characters well and builds on the legacy and arc of Harrison Ford’s iconic character Rick Deckard in a satisfying continuation.
With startling sci-fi landscapes of California, overpopulated city blocks and a mysterious wall that keeps tsunami like tides at bay; Blade Runner 2049’s completely immersive world is captivating, even if a lot of the social realities are pretty grim.
Joining in Ford and Gosling’s terrific performances are stellar turn-outs by Robin Wright as an authoritative Lieutenant and Jared Leto as a maniacal business leader with a god-complex aided by his lethal assistant Luv (Sylvia Hoeks). Sci-fi wins the contest on having the most fresh, believable women characters with Mackenzie Davis (Black Mirror’s San Junipero episode) and Ana de Armas (War Dogs) giving moving performances; plus a special mention goes to former WWE wrestler and current Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista, who impresses with his depth here.
Every detail, down to the finest aspect of minutiae is considered and replicated beautifully by Blade Runner 2049’s art and costume departments, paying special attention to that fascination with 20th-century culture that thrives in the original; while an equilibrium displacing rumble of a soundtrack increases and extrapolates the tension.
Containing a juicy twist, Blade Runner 2049 will keep you guessing minute to minute on whose alliances can be trusted and what the ultimate fates of the characters might be.
Blade Runner 2049
In Cinemas October 5th
Rating: R13
Review by Kate Tayor
Kate (One Take Kate) is a movie + entertainment reviewer, writer, blogger and social media community manager who runs entertainment and lifestyle website onetakekate.com.
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