Blade Runner
by Robbo
Posted on 29 May 2021
Rating -
Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, and adapted by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is loosely based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The film is set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019, in which synthetic humans known as replicants are bio-engineered by the powerful Tyrell Corporation to work at space colonies. When a fugitive group of advanced replicants led by Roy Batty (Hauer) escapes back to Earth, burnt-out cop Rick Deckard (Ford) reluctantly agrees to hunt them down.
Blade Runner initially underperformed in North American theaters and polarized critics; some praised its thematic complexity and visuals, while others critiqued its slow pacing and lack of action. It later became an acclaimed cult film regarded as one of the all-time best science fiction films. Hailed for its production design depicting a decaying future, Blade Runner is a leading example of neo-noir cinema. The film’s soundtrack, composed by Vangelis, was nominated in 1982 for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe as best original score.
Blade Runner is a neo-noir classic detective story, even containing the requisite voice over from the lead character. In fact Hampton Fancher wrote the screenplay specifically for Robert Mitchum.
The film has many layers. It is a straight forward detective story of a retired police officer brought back to hunt down a group of fugitives, but it is also a deeper philosophical film.
It asks questions about bio-engineering and humanity, is an artificially created human a human and if not, what makes a human a human, is it our experiences? our memories? or something else.
I can understand why it underperformed when it was first released but I loved this film from the first time I saw it.
It is visually stunning with cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth and the special effects are generally recognized to be among the best of all time, using the available (non-digital) technology to the fullest.
Harrison Ford delivers a solid performance but it’s Hauer’s portrayal of Batty which stands out and was regarded by Philip K. Dick as “the perfect Batty – cold, Aryan, flawless”.
The studio had final cut and the theatrical release had a happy ending which both Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford were unhappy with.
In 2007 Ridley Scott released a Final Cut which he said was the film he wanted to make.
Blade Runner has since become a cult classic and I would highly recommend.
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