Blade Runner - The Final Cut (1982) *****
Blade Runner (1982) is one of those films that is worthy of hyperbole—it's one of my Top 100 Films (#19). It operates at peak level in every department—the assured direction by Ridley Scott, the existential screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, the gorgeous cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth, the incredible production design by Lawrence G. Paull, the beautiful synthesized score by Vangelis, and the complex performances of Harrison Ford, Sean Young, and, in particular, Rutger Hauer.
Some viewers find BR to be an exercise in style over substance, but I don't agree. The film presents its themes in broad strokes, without the need for minute detail (at least in the script; the level of detail that went into the production is astounding). It's a slower moving film punctuated by short bursts of action, focusing more on its characters and their "human" desires.
BR underperformed at the box office and received mixed reviews in its initial run, having since gone on to become highly influential and regarded as a classic. Blade Runner is the ultimate sci-fi neo-noir—a film that rewards with each subsequent viewing and gave us a wonderful sequel (review) an unprecedented 35 years later. Happy 40th anniversary to this masterpiece.
Some viewers find BR to be an exercise in style over substance, but I don't agree. The film presents its themes in broad strokes, without the need for minute detail (at least in the script; the level of detail that went into the production is astounding). It's a slower moving film punctuated by short bursts of action, focusing more on its characters and their "human" desires.
BR underperformed at the box office and received mixed reviews in its initial run, having since gone on to become highly influential and regarded as a classic. Blade Runner is the ultimate sci-fi neo-noir—a film that rewards with each subsequent viewing and gave us a wonderful sequel (review) an unprecedented 35 years later. Happy 40th anniversary to this masterpiece.
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