Blade Runner
USA | 1982 | Directed by Ridley Scott
Logline: In Los Angeles, 2019, a cynical and weary detective is coerced into tracking down several dangerous rogue androids, but finds himself confused and dehumanized in the process.
REPLICANT\rep’-li-cant\n. See also ROBOT (antique): ANDROID (obsolete): NEXUS (generic): Synthetic human, with paraphysical capabilities, having skin/flesh culture. Also: Rep, skin job (slang): Off-world use: Combat, high risk industrial deepspace probe. On-world use prohibited. Specifications and quantities ― information classified.
- New American Dictionary
Copyright © 2016
Sometimes it’s the flaws in a movie that elevate it to the level of rough diamond. Blade Runner is a cosmic gem grounded at street level in a wet and filthy social apocalypse of technological ingenuity amidst a wild moral wilderness. Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novella Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential sf movies ever made. It also happens to be my very favourite film (although Fellini’s 8½ occasionally comes a-knocking).
Ridley Scott had already made a brilliant and seminal sf movie, Alien, but he jumped back on board the future-noir wagon and delivered another grim and visceral piece of pure and astounding cinema. Keeping the weathered look of Alien, but expanding on his “retro-fitting” concept, Scott had the production design and art department go to town on an existing Hollywood set of downtown New York (originally the movie was to take place in a future Manhattan). The result of Scott’s deft melding of sound and image, combined with Jordan Cronenweth’s stunning cinematography, Douglas Trumbull’s masterful visual effects, and of course, that score by Vangelis, makes Blade Runner so richly atmospheric, so dreamlike and mesmerizing.
There is a melancholy that exudes the movie, most of it through the timeless exotic electronic score, but much of it comes from actor Rutget Hauer’s career-defining performance as Roy Batty, the self-styled leader of the Nexus-6 Off-world slaves (including 21-year-old Darryl Hannah in her screen debut); advanced flesh and blood robots known as Replicants. Batty has brought his friends back to Earth (under penalty of death, or as the cops call it “retirement”) to join him in his mission to find his maker: their genius geneticist creator, Dr. Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkell). And when Batty finds him he demands, “I want more life, Father!” (in the original theatrical version the line was “I want more life, fucker!”, which held an equal resonance).
Harrison Ford has always complained that his character, Deckard, never did any real detective work (he also rates his experience working on the movie as one of his least favourite), yet that element was never meant to be that important. Blade Runner is less about the machinations of the law and more about the philosophy of what it is to be human. The beautiful irony that author Dick was interested in, and which Scott hones in the movie, is how Deckard becomes less and less a human as he tries to eliminate the robots that are proving to be more than human.
The infamous concept which was strongly hinted at in the original version and the later Director’s Cut and Final Cut, but toned down in the 1982 theatrical version with the tagged-on happy ending, is that Deckard is very likely a prototype Replicant himself, the same kind as his Replicant lover Rachael (Sean Young), both of whom have implanted memories and aren’t aware they’re artificial humans. Philip K. Dick never suggested this intriguing aspect, but Ridley Scott was always adamant. Curiously Harrison Ford thinks otherwise (perhaps just to spite Scott).
Blade Runner works on so many levels, most effectively on a purely visual level, but significantly on an emotional level, which is surprising as it has heavily criticized over the years for being too cold and detached. No doubt the beautiful Vangelis music has a lot to do with the mood and tone, but there is much to be said for the overwhelming sensory experience the movie upholds; Scott’s attention to detail is more evident in Blade Runner than any of his other movies (with the exception of Alien).
I love watching this movie, time and time again.
TRAILER:
One of the best movies ever, based on one of the crappiest scripts ever.
Karel said this on May 8, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Karel, yes, well, as we’ve discussed; a rather curious anomaly. The question now is; when will it – and Alien – be re-made? Perish the thought.
Bruno Dante said this on May 8, 2009 at 4:22 pm
God I love this movie! I recently read the book which was quite different.
I tried to leve a few comments on your posts yesterday but I think there was a problem with your captcha mechanism. I reported the problem and by the looks of it, it’s been fixed
Cheryl said this on May 8, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Hi Cheryl,
Glad you love it! Yes, the book is quite different indeed … He’s married, they’re saving up to by a real animal … It’s all rather quaint
Re: capctcha, yes, it’s sorted now, cheers
Bruno Dante said this on May 9, 2009 at 3:37 am
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love it. I could watch it once a day and never get tired of it. Well, perhaps once a week… But yes, wonderful film. Right up there with Dune for me.
Natalina said this on May 9, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hi Natalina,
This IS my favourite movie. Although Fellini’s 8 1/2 is a close second. I dip into it regularly, and I have the limited edition Deckard Briefcase with toy Spinner, origami unicorn, and all five discs, including the hugely anticipated “Workprint” version.
Have you seen the complete version of Dune? I’m a big fan of David Lynch.
Bruno Dante said this on May 13, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I don’t have the fancy version of this film yet, which is a tragedy isn’t it? I must go out and get it ASAP!
I’ve seen the complete version of Dune, love it. Watched it just the other day, actually. I never get tired of it. I love the whole series of Dune books as well. David Lynch is a mad genius. I like most of his work, although Inland Empire was a little too weird, even for me! Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, of course Twin Peaks and Dune…these are among my favorites.
Natalina said this on May 14, 2009 at 1:19 am
Yes, you must. Immediately!
I love the production design of Dune, however, I wish Alejandro Jodorowsky had made the movie. He went into pre-production in the mid-70s with a big budget and H.R. Giger as production designer!! The tanks and worm designs looked amazing! But ultimately the financing feel through and he was forced to abandon the project. Posters still exist.
Lynch is a very eccentric genius indeed. I’d love to meet him, but I wonder if I’d get a sensible answer. I was a huge fan of Twin Peaks first two seasons. My best buddy and I even planned a Twin Peaks party, but it never eventuated (I was going to come as Benjamin Horne).
Inland Empire (which I reviewed) is very strange indeed, but par for the course for Lynch. My faves of his are Eraserhead, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and Blue Velvet (would kill to see the complete version of that, but alas the negatives are now lost, there’s a still montage of the missing scenes on the special edition DVD I have). I also have a soft spot for Wild at Heart (”This is my snakeskin jacket, my symbol of individuality and personal freedom!”)
Bruno Dante said this on May 14, 2009 at 10:17 am
I bought a beautiful coffee table book of Giger’s art…I was using it as a muse back in the days when I was young and thought I needed a really bad ass tattoo of a cyborg, or something along those lines! I’m very glad I decided that admiring H.R. Giger is far more rewarding in the pages of a book than on a young lady’s skin.
I haven’t seen Wild at Heart in many moons, so I don’t remember a lot about it. I love Laura Dern. That quote is fantastic!
Natalina said this on May 14, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Cyborg tattoo … ha! Have you seen the utter trash Cyborg II with a young Angelina Jolie??
I like the scene in Wild at Heart when they come across the car crash in the desert and Sherilyn Fenn is wondering around with a nasty head wound and severe concussion trying to find her handbag …
I LOVE GIGER, I have a small book published by Taschen (always reliable), and a big book on his film design work. Awesome!
Bruno Dante said this on May 14, 2009 at 1:07 pm