I am a huge fan of the marvellous Denis Villeneuve film Blade Runner 2049 released in 2017. Even though it's been 7 years since it was released, I still regularly find my inner cinephile hankering after this stone cold classic, or at the very least craving a wee read around the subject matter, perhaps open up the Wikipedia page or find a YouTube analysis of the film.
Why is Blade Runner 2049 so good?
As well as an unwavering sense of nostalgia that keeps me returning to this film, there's also a hypnotic je ne sais quoi about Blade Runner 2049 that keeps it fresh no matter how many times I revisit this work of art. Maybe it's that I was an impressionable young whippersnapper in the year 2018 when I first discovered Blade Runner 2049, or the fact that Denis Villeneuve were absolutely at the top of their game when they released said film. It's hard to pinpoint something so transcendental. Once you love a piece of art you become faithful to it's ethos.
Blade Runner 2049 is a film that is still relevant
One thing's for sure though, Blade Runner 2049 has stood the test of time and then some. It remains as powerful and relevant today as it did in 2017. And why wouldn't it? With masterful direction like that, it's no wonder people return to this film again and again. I can't imagine life without it John.
Denis Villeneuve knocked it out the park
But it's not just the masterful direction that make this film great. It's the overall package. The compelling and nuanced performance by Ryan Gosling as Agent K is a tour de force. The haunting score by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch is integral, as is the breathtaking visuals and stunning use of color, light, and shadow by cinematographer Roger Deakins. And who can forget fantastic way the film builds on the mythology of the first film, pays homage and then adds a subtle layer of its own for good measure. When Denis Villeneuve created this timeless classic, never mind the ball park, they knocked this one out of the solar system. This bad boy is in danger of bothering Voyager.
Has Blade Runner 2049 stood the test of time?
Of course, there are other films out there to be argued for. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Some might argue that Margin Call is better than Blade Runner 2049, or that J. C. Chandor is better than Denis Villeneuve. They may well have a point. But for me, Blade Runner 2049 will always hold a special place in my heart. And 7 years tickling the meridian response does not lie.
Blade Runner 2049 in conclusion
To sum up, Blade Runner 2049 is a wonderful thing, a film of unrivalled quality. It's a film that has etched itself into the psyche, distributing untold tingles up the spine, hogging synapses and monopolising neurons that could otherwise be put to use appreciating more important, or perhaps more useful information. But no matter what life throws at me, I know I can always rely on Blade Runner 2049 to deliver the goods.