Year: 1982
Director: Ridley Scott
Academy Award Nominations:
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
- Best Effects, Visual Effects
I'd like to begin our breakdown of AFI's #97 film by stating that Blade Runner may be my favorite science fiction film of all time. Also, it should be duly noted that if Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down) knows nothing else, he sure as hell knows how to direct a film.
Set in the futuristic world of Los Angeles 2019, Blade Runner tells the story of suave "blade runner" Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a highly skilled police officer tasked with hunting and 'retiring" rogue replicants. See, in the space aged 2019, a major corporation has given life to replicants, or synthetic robots designed to look and live like humans (only many times stronger and faster), which are used for slave labor on off-world colonies. Deckard's world is turned upside down when he's called back onto the force to track down a group of highly dangerous fugitive androids. Oh, and just in case you're wondering, "retirement" is code for killing.
While retiring his prey in grand fashion, Deckard develops an interesting relationship with a lovely replicant named Rachael (Sean Young). Rachael, a prototype of Tyrell Corp's newest line, does not know she is a replicant. Unlike her bionic predecessors, Rachael has memories, human memories dating back to the childhood she never actually had. After privately telling Rachael the truth about her existence, the heartthrob Deckard falls for Tyrell's "experiment" and becomes convinced he can save her.
In the meantime, a prime replicant named Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) begins hunting for his creator. The replicants may be seemingly identical to human beings, but as a control measure, they are programed to have a lifespan of only four years. Driven by the thirst for life, Roy's android posse scours the city until they find what they were seeking, passage into Tyrell Corp.
By the end of the film, we begin to realize that the story really questions what it means to possess the gift of life. As Roy's final days are running out, he finds himself face to face with his creator, Dr. Elden Tyrell. Roy's request is simple, he just wants more life. The doctor calmly explains that the replicant's request is biologically impossible, which leads to a chilling analogy. Tyrell looks into the eyes of his most beautiful creation and says, "A light that burns twice as bright burns half as long. And you've burned very, very brightly. Roy." A humanoid zenith, Roy has performed more feats in his four years than most humans will ever achieve in their lifetime. Accepting his fate, Roy embraces his father, then proceeds to force his thumbs through the back of Dr. Tyrell's eye sockets.
In the climax of this scifi wonder, Deckard has a standoff with the enraged Roy inside what has to be the creepiest house in all of futuristic Los Angeles. A nightmarish chase scene follows, which leads the foes onto the rainy rooftop. In pure desperation, Deckard finds himself dangling from a slippery ledge with the menacing Roy looming just above. The blade runner loses his grip, falling into the darkness below until the towering replicant single handedly grabs him and raises him to eye level. Deckard trembles as Roy looks him directly in the eyes, declaring, "Quite and experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave."
With his primary goal of striking the fear of God into the blade runner accomplished, Roy peacefully sits beside Deckard as the rain cascades around them. Roy wraps his arms around himself and says, "I've seen things you people would never believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain..." Then, with his final breath, he utters the words, "Time to die." Thoughts clearly race through Deckard's head as he disbelievingly looks on at the lifeless android. The once thought soulless replicant, who could have easily killed him, has spared his life.
When I first heard Roy deliver his powerful soliloquy, I was a bit awe-stricken. I believe this comment is very relevant in today's conversation as we advance in the fields of science. This makes me wonder at what point is an entity really alive, and what does it really mean to have a soul? What does it mean to feel? To love? And what gives man the authority to confidently answer these questions? These thoughts seem to race through our heroes mind as well.
The sun rises as police arrive to find Deckard shivering on the rooftop. As he departs to find Rachael, a fellow blade runner shouts, "It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" More deep, thought provoking words packed on at the end of the film. With this statement running through his head, Deckard heads out to find Rachael.
The final shot of the film concludes as Deckard steals away with his replicant lover.
Scott and company may have been a bit off on their estimation of earth in 2019, with the flying cars and space travel and what not, but they certainly crafted a beautiful setting which entrances the audience's imagination. As a scifi/film noir stunner, Blade Runner takes full advantage of the shadow play in the dark, fantasy world of futuristic Los Angeles. With this powerful combination of noir style of cinematography and scifi synthetic scoring, Blade Runner creates a one of a kind experience that viewers will, or at least should, never forget.
At least I know I won't.
If you're a fan of the Blade Runner story, you may also enjoy the book on which the film was based: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep."
While retiring his prey in grand fashion, Deckard develops an interesting relationship with a lovely replicant named Rachael (Sean Young). Rachael, a prototype of Tyrell Corp's newest line, does not know she is a replicant. Unlike her bionic predecessors, Rachael has memories, human memories dating back to the childhood she never actually had. After privately telling Rachael the truth about her existence, the heartthrob Deckard falls for Tyrell's "experiment" and becomes convinced he can save her.
In the meantime, a prime replicant named Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) begins hunting for his creator. The replicants may be seemingly identical to human beings, but as a control measure, they are programed to have a lifespan of only four years. Driven by the thirst for life, Roy's android posse scours the city until they find what they were seeking, passage into Tyrell Corp.
By the end of the film, we begin to realize that the story really questions what it means to possess the gift of life. As Roy's final days are running out, he finds himself face to face with his creator, Dr. Elden Tyrell. Roy's request is simple, he just wants more life. The doctor calmly explains that the replicant's request is biologically impossible, which leads to a chilling analogy. Tyrell looks into the eyes of his most beautiful creation and says, "A light that burns twice as bright burns half as long. And you've burned very, very brightly. Roy." A humanoid zenith, Roy has performed more feats in his four years than most humans will ever achieve in their lifetime. Accepting his fate, Roy embraces his father, then proceeds to force his thumbs through the back of Dr. Tyrell's eye sockets.
In the climax of this scifi wonder, Deckard has a standoff with the enraged Roy inside what has to be the creepiest house in all of futuristic Los Angeles. A nightmarish chase scene follows, which leads the foes onto the rainy rooftop. In pure desperation, Deckard finds himself dangling from a slippery ledge with the menacing Roy looming just above. The blade runner loses his grip, falling into the darkness below until the towering replicant single handedly grabs him and raises him to eye level. Deckard trembles as Roy looks him directly in the eyes, declaring, "Quite and experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave."
With his primary goal of striking the fear of God into the blade runner accomplished, Roy peacefully sits beside Deckard as the rain cascades around them. Roy wraps his arms around himself and says, "I've seen things you people would never believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain..." Then, with his final breath, he utters the words, "Time to die." Thoughts clearly race through Deckard's head as he disbelievingly looks on at the lifeless android. The once thought soulless replicant, who could have easily killed him, has spared his life.
When I first heard Roy deliver his powerful soliloquy, I was a bit awe-stricken. I believe this comment is very relevant in today's conversation as we advance in the fields of science. This makes me wonder at what point is an entity really alive, and what does it really mean to have a soul? What does it mean to feel? To love? And what gives man the authority to confidently answer these questions? These thoughts seem to race through our heroes mind as well.
The sun rises as police arrive to find Deckard shivering on the rooftop. As he departs to find Rachael, a fellow blade runner shouts, "It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" More deep, thought provoking words packed on at the end of the film. With this statement running through his head, Deckard heads out to find Rachael.
The final shot of the film concludes as Deckard steals away with his replicant lover.
Scott and company may have been a bit off on their estimation of earth in 2019, with the flying cars and space travel and what not, but they certainly crafted a beautiful setting which entrances the audience's imagination. As a scifi/film noir stunner, Blade Runner takes full advantage of the shadow play in the dark, fantasy world of futuristic Los Angeles. With this powerful combination of noir style of cinematography and scifi synthetic scoring, Blade Runner creates a one of a kind experience that viewers will, or at least should, never forget.
At least I know I won't.
If you're a fan of the Blade Runner story, you may also enjoy the book on which the film was based: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep."
No comments:
Post a Comment