Blade Runner 2049 is not only the best movie of the year, but one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made. The film is a masterpiece on every level; directing, acting, cinematography, etc. This film surpasses Ridley Scott’s original Blade Runner and will be celebrated for years to come.

Blade Runner 2049 is about Officer K (Ryan Gosling) and Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) trying to find Rick Deckard’s (Harrison Ford) child. This child is special because it’s the only child that a replicant has ever given birth to. Officer K is a blade runner ordered to kill this child before people find out about it, while Niander Wallace is trying to figure out how to make more replicants and wants to figure out how a replicant can give birth to a child.

Denis Villeneuve directs this and proves that he is one of the greatest filmmakers working today. Arrival, also directed by Villeneuve, was my favorite movie from last year, and Blade Runner 2049 is my favorite of this year. One thing he did that I loved was that he had the replicants show no emotion, while the humans were full of emotion. He also takes Blade Runner’s city of Los Angeles in 2019 and expands it.  It feels much larger while he shows us different area’s of the futuristic city, going outside the main area shown in the original film. He also utilizes color like I have never seen in a film. The film somehow manages to keep its dismal, monotone feel even with clear, bright colors. He also makes an interesting decision in making this film over-sexual. This caught me off guard because that is barely shown in the first film. He handles it very well; the sexuality doesn’t feel forced and is very well blended in.

Ryan Gosling does a great job at subtly showing emotion in this movie. There is one scene in particular that stands out. His character is being approached by prostitutes, and, when they start to flirt with him, they realize that he is a blade runner. Two leave and one stays, still trying to flirt with him. While they are talking, his hologram girlfriend, Joi (Ana de Armas) tries to call him. The prostitute then says “So, you’re not into real girls?” We see his embarrassment even though we know that he really loves her; and, somehow, both emotions come through. He shows so much emotion throughout the film only using facial expression and does a great job.

Roger Deakins does the cinematography for this film, and this is the best looking film he has made. He has been nominated for 13 oscars, but has never won one. He is arguably the best cinematographer of all time and definitely does his best in this film. He deserves to finally win an Academy Award.

The film clocks in at almost three hours long, but it feels like a hour and a half long.  This story is also so much and entertaining than the first, and the action is filmed better in this film. That is one thing I like more about this film compared to the first. Blade Runner is almost an hour shorter but feels longer than Blade Runner 2049. In general, everything in this film is better than the first.

There is not a single thing wrong with this film and this is the type of film that makes people want to be filmmakers. This film is shown with such an epic scope that it is just incredible to watch. This film is what filmmakers only dream they could make.  

Grade: A+