Tobias Sung - Blade Runner 2049 [Review]

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By Tobias Sung, 16, St. Louis School
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By Tobias Sung, 16, St. Louis School |
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We asked our readers to write a review of a movie they think deserves an Oscar. Here is one of the entries. It has not been edited.

The movie I think should win an Oscar this year is the film Blade Runner 2049. It was honestly the most breathtaking and impactful film I have seen in a cinema.

It is set in the far future which, unlike more generic or mainstream depictions, is dark and gritty, still rife with the injustice and violence that today’s world suffers from, perhaps even more so, where bio-engineered versions of humans known as Replicants take up a large part of society, mostly an underprivileged social class.

The protagonist of the film, simply named K, works for the LAPD as a Blade Runner, officers who hunt down and kill rogue replicants. On what appears to be a normal mission to neutralize a replicant, he discovers a secret, one of such great import that if it were ever to be discovered by the humans, it could spark a war between them and the replicants. Officer K continues to investigate this secret, and must choose which side to take in this potential war.

This synopsis barely covers a tenth of what the actual movie has to offer to avoid spoilers, but most who have watched this movie would definitely agree its story is one of its strong points, among many, which is why I’d like to see Blade Runner 2049 take home at least one Oscar, because it excels in so many different aspects of film.

The story subverts many classic sci-fi cliches, having many twists and turns that make it an unpredictable and thought-provoking journey, with great and memorable dialogue bolstered by strong performances from nearly every actor in this film. But what truly steals the show in this film are the visuals. The futuristic landscapes, which are mostly made up of detailed miniatures  and not over-excessive CGI, are absolutely gorgeous, especially during the rainy exterior shots where you can see the vibrant city lights against a grey and gloomy backdrop, supported by the fantastic cinematography, with every shot meticulously framed.

Technically, theatrically and aesthetically, Blade Runner 2049 shines in an age where sequels are often degraded versions of the originals, full of needless teasing of future films and over-reliance on action and comedy to draw in mainstream audiences, focusing more on being an amazing film rather than cashing in on the success of its predecessor, which it matches, if not surpasses. Such a remarkable film definitely deserves an Oscar.

Check out all the other entries here.

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