Today’s quick review: Blade Runner. Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a private detective living in future Los Angeles who is called in by the Tyrell Corporation to hunt down a batch of escaped replicants. The replicants are advanced androids that are indistinguishable from humans except by sophisticated emotional and physiological tests. Deckard’s investigation takes him down a dark road as he discovers that the fugitive replicants have disturbingly human motivations.
Blade Runner is an iconic science fiction noir from director Ridley Scott based on the novel by Philip K. Dick. The work examines questions of humanity, memory, and identity against the backdrop of a quasi-dystopian future where industrialization has made humanity more elusive a concept than ever. The visual effects of the film are impressive, depicting a futuristic Los Angeles filled with massive skyscrapers, neon lights, and smog. The film has a brooding atmosphere that crosses the tone, plot, and characters of a noir with the exaggerated setting and philosophical themes of science fiction.
Despite fine craftsmanship, lofty themes, and a weighty tone, Blade Runner struggles to be conventionally satisfying. The special effects do not scale well to the small screen, and the darkness of the film can make it difficult to follow visually. Rick Deckard is a good protagonist, but he acts more as a lens into the film’s world than a character the viewer can rally behind. The plot has a sense of futility about it that, coupled with its atypical structure, makes the film feel more like a protracted vignette than a story.
Watch Blade Runner if you are in the mood for a heavy science fiction film that eschews the perks of a conventional story in favor of considerable atmosphere, quality of presentation, and interesting philosophical themes. Skip it if you are looking for something with more than a sprinkling of action, a lighter watch, or a story that gives you all the answers.
8.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for high levels of all-around quality held back by an unsatisfying, if philosophically rich, story.