...was the tagline from the original version of the film. It sets the scene for the entire movie.
Ridley Scott’s masterpiece - I’d say his best film to date - projects a vision which is very disenchanting when thinking of our lives to come. The entire film seems to give off an eerie feeling that what we see now on the silver screen, is a very possible future. Look how the police - government agencies - throughout the movie are in total control of society. This is not the only frightening example of symbolism throughout the film. The separation of classes, indeed the entire ethos of the film is very disturbing. That’s probably what makes it so compelling.
Plot-wise, Harrison Ford as the cop Deckard is sent to eliminate several escaped replicants, androids with a projected lifespan of four years, but which have developed beyond that, and are now expressing - or possibly expressing? - human emotions. The will to survive and reproduce, and more prominently, love.
The backdrop for this is L.A., in which the film makes particular emphasis of the dominance of the corporation. It’s a now-familiar concept for fans of the cyberpunk genre, but back in 82 it was pretty much original. Several references in the film suggest we’re heading down a slippery slope into oblivion, controlled by the big boys - for example the events that Roy, the replicant, witnessed in the outerworld colonies. He has seen the things that, ’’you people wouldn’t believe what I’ve seen’’, which is more than anyone in the dirty city of Los Angeles will ever see. This point could possibly be, and probably is in my opinion, the underlying point of the film. Society, for the most part does have any insight on what is happening outside of their dreary world. In other words, the common people do not have a view of what is the ’’big picture’’ - if they even want it, as the film suggests they do not.
Another disturbing link in the movie as described before is the power that the government has over the people. This portrayal of police control is evident today especially within Los Angles, the setting for Blade Runner. The way that the city police have almost become an army is also very similar to our views of present day communism. Only the very powerful have wealth and control within this society. The larger part of the population are left to live in the foul presence of the streets below. This shows remnants of a very destructive class structure, one which is feared by most hard working people today and therefore a disturbing subject to relay into a film.
One last example of power struggle in the film which you have to point out, is the way in which those in power exist in the higher parts of the city. Tyrell’s headquarters is above the city and is the only place that we don’t see any rain suggesting that comfort only accompanies success. Also the way that the police are at all times above the city streets shows their power over the common people. This is seen right from the beginning, when Deckard rides in the police vehicle over the city, from which their view is very beautiful.
Harrison Ford gives one of his best performances in Blade Runner, certainly one of his more serious roles. He is complemented superbly by the beautiful Sean Young, who gives possibly the most sexually-charged performance I’ve ever seen. Rutger Hauer chips in with his usual bad-guy character, but carries it off better than usual and none of the cast seem out of place in this future.
A mention must also go to the superb soundtrack by Vangelis, which compliments the superb atmospherics and visual effects perfectly. The soundtrack is superb as a standalone CD, even without the film.
Blade Runner gives suggestion to some very distressing views of the world to come. These views are easily connected to present day situations and therefore make an uneasy movie to the viewer, myself in particular.
A superb film, which gets better with every viewing and, ultimately, the Director’s Cut which leads to the ultimate question - is Deckard a replicant?