You have to take Blade Runner in context. It was the first sci-fi film to present a dark, gritty, scary future. There was a lot of Star-Warsy-future-optimism going on when Blade Runner was made. To film-adapt ANY Dick story, but especially
Electric Sheep, was almost an act of violence against the state of cinematic sci-fi.
Yeah, it was made in the early '80's, and it shows. There are some exceedingly corny performances (especially by Larry--where are Daryl and Daryl??), but you've got to love how brilliantly Sean Young underplays the mysterious Rachael, her cool warmth, her synthetic humanity. And how Ford captures a grim burnt-out post-Bogart swagger.
It's a morally ambiguous film, especially the diretor's cut. The other striking thing about the directors cut is the ending--the major release had a tacked-on happy ending with the two of them flying off into the sunset. It's vague, mysterious, ambiguous. It thwarts your desire to have everything tied together in a neat package. It's delicious that way.
The other thing about Blade Runner is how it was embraced by the postmodern deconstructionist academic set. I can't really say much that's too sensible about that, but lurkette was very much brought up in that academic world. I'll ask her to come say something about that.
In short, it's a hard film, but it rewards close viewing. You guys probably don't like the first Alien, either, hunh? Too much silence for you?
