Blade runner 2049 is masterful film; a true example of treating every shot like a painting and balancing rapid action with long, meandering scenes. The colour palette moves between greyscale and vibrance, and the soundtrack balances near silence with blaring electronic music. If you’re after a movie that explores both the minimalist and the maximalist, you have it in Blade Runner.

Ryan Gosling plays K; a blade runner some decades after Deckard left off. The world is significantly declined, and he is sent on a rabbit-hole like investigation. Every actor is a treat, but I think Gosling is in his prime, almost building on his performance and character in Drive.

What I love most is the exploration of the themes of 2049; it stacks the deck with issues of societal degeneration, loneliness and the failure of transhumanism. Most of this exploration is tied up in subtext; your boss demanding availability at every hour or that feeling when your girlfriend is a robot (sounds silly, but is strangely relatable).

The world is rich with implication as a warning of what progressive human aims can lead to, and I felt like I got to experience the world again for the first time; it was full of lovely world building details to discover.

Though the plot shines, I really think it almost takes a back seat to the “vibe” of the film; from the compelling visuals to the long scenes of extended silence. If you have the patience to immerse yourself, give it a go.

Let us know what you thought of Bladerunner 2049 in the comments below!