Blade Runner 2049; 9/10
Short Spoiler free Review:
Its hard to remember a solid Sci Fi story like this in recent memory. This is hard Sci Fi.......not shoot em up, feel good, fun soft style type of film. For that reason it will most likely fail at the box office, then find its legs later on Netflix or Amazon. Much like the first film. This film spends alot of time setting up mood, and atmosphere, as well as dealing with character reactions to situations.
it is a STUNNING film to watch...beautiful and memorizing. Add to that an original score that invokes the first film and puts a fine point on the mood and tension. The acting is perfect and quite good at drawing you into what is a very cerebral film. Honestly it should be up for several academy awards, I would even say it has a shot at best picture, although Sci-fi will never win that category.
It reminds me of Silence of the Lambs in a way. The dialogue is riveting, with great scenes between great actors, as well as quite a few scenes where each actor gets the spotlight to themselves for quite a bit f time. It also has very little action, like Silence of the Lambs......its a talking movie, a thinking movie. thats not to say the action is non existent, when they turn the action on...once an hour, its pretty great.
I unfortunately have a knack of seeing the how to plot will play out for most films before the films is a 1/4 done...I assumed that I had this one figured out as well.....I was dead wrong, and never been happier to be so. While not a complicated plot it does take a few unexpected turns , which I did not see coming.
I cannot say enough about the cinematography, sets or visuals. They are amazing. Watching this film reminds the movie goer what a film CAN be, if shot with an artist eye, talent and a desire to make a statement with a story. It was refreshing to see a director take his time with shots, willing to add a few extra seconds to make his point about the characters or locations.....this alone makes this film a cut above the rest.
All this said......most people will hate it.....that will say its slow, boring , not enough action.......and thank God for that. This will join a long line of stellar films most people will not understand, or be comfortable watching......like Fight Club, V for Vendetta, Children of Men......
It gave me great satisfaction so see some studios still will let a hard core Sci Fi, cerebral film live.....Dean V did an amazing job.......
Yeah I liked it that much. Best film in recent memory.