Monday, August 9, 2010

The Search for Humanity in Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”

In 2019, the Off-world colonies are utilizing androids known as replicants as slave labor. When several of the Nexus-6 models escape, four of the replicants are believed to have made it to Earth, where their presence would be a violation of the law. Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner, part of a unit commissioned to detect and kill replicants (an act which has been termed “retirement”), is enlisted to track down and retire the renegade androids. In the course of his investigation, Deckard learns that replicants, for fear that they might develop emotional responses and make them harder to identify, were given a four-year lifespan. As Deckard draws closer, the apparent leader of the replicants, Batty (Rutger Hauer), seeks a way in which to prolong his existence.

Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) is a sci-fi film with a clear focus on humanity and questioning what makes a being human, a characteristic it shares with its source text, Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A number of movies of the science fiction genre deal with what the genre title suggests: an advancement in technology and an extraordinary future. Scott brings the human element into the film, implying that the world of the future is not a product of technology and is instead defined by the people who reside within it. Blade Runner doesn’t simply show its audience what it hasn’t yet seen; it shows us what hasn’t been seen and what has already been abandoned. The future is not technology at its prime. It’s technology in various stages, some of it fresh and new, and some of it in decay.

The movie opens with a beautiful view of a city, with huge, overpowering buildings and vehicles in flight. Scott then takes the viewers into a dark, ordinary office room, where the only thing apparently unconventional is the Voight-Kampff device, a machine used for detection of replicants. As a man (Brion James) undergoes an assessment, the blade runner administering the test, Holden (Morgan Paull), seems to be indifferent to not only his test subject but the machine itself. Considering that the device is almost hidden in shadow in a room of low lighting (the Voight-Kampff is usually regulated with little light), technology is certainly not highlighted. Most of the futuristic machinery is presented in this manner, exemplified by Deckard yawning during a 10-second elevator ride to the 97th floor of his apartment. The world is populated by people who have become accustomed to all of this. The science is not new to them, almost as if Scott were attempting to drop the “fiction” from science fiction.

In the same vein, the world itself has outlived its vitality. Underneath the buildings and bright lights is the subterranean society
, the people of the city hiding from the rain, where the sun rarely shines. But inside those buildings are vast, empty spaces, and those flashing lights are little more than advertisements, typically endorsing the Off-world colonies. There is a scene in the film where a replicant, Pris (Daryl Hannah), asks Sebastian (William Sanderson) about his illness, and then questions if it is the reason he is still on Earth, which he confirms. This more than insinuates that Earth is comparable to the seemingly deserted machines and buildings, that life on the colonies established on other planets is preferable. The film can be regarded as a critique of consumerism, that the idea of substance holds more weight than any actual substance.

Humans attempt to survive in this forlorn, barren world, but who are the humans? More to the point, it seems, what is the definition of humanity? Replicants were designed to be identical to humans, save for emotional response. But the short lifespan safeguard was ineffective, as the escaped replicants truly want one thing: to live. Survival and fear of death are base components of humanity. And while the deadpan Deckard shows little emotion, the replicants, in addition to fear, express anger, apparent confusion, and, it seems, happiness. However, an audience can identify more with Deckard, a world weary man just trying to complete his job. Blade runners have been trained to detect a replicant by lack of empathy, but in the film, the replicants’ emotional resonance is what ultimately reminds viewers what they are: artificial. Batty’s smiles are maniacal, Pris’ trepidation when meeting Sebastian gives the impression of having been learned, and Zhora (Joanna Cassidy) has a perpetual expression of anticipation, as if she were continually seeking the proper way to react.

Many of the actors in the film have an appropriate stoic quality, particularly James, Sean Young, and the outstanding Edward James Olmos as Gaff, who assists Deckard in the investigation. Some of the actors portray characters known to be replicants, but others are not necessarily androids, and it is difficult not to wonder about their humanity or lack thereof. In fact, Scott directly addresses the idea of Deckard himself possibly being a replicant (a concept taken from the novel), in a small but significant sequence that was excised from the original theatrical version. Ford underplays Deckard but to great effect, and having garnered success with the first two Star Wars films (1977 and 1980), as well Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), he proved that he was a versatile and capable actor.

Sci-fi novelist Dick was supposedly upset with early drafts of the screenplay. However, he was pleased after seeing a rewrite and viewing an advanced cut of Douglas Trumbull’s special effects (David Dryer completed the project as “special effects supervisor”). The author died a few months before the film’s release, and Blade Runner was dedicated to him. The title of the film was taken from Alan E. Nourse’s 1974 novel The Bladerunner, as well as a screen treatment by fellow novelist William S. Burroughs. In Nourse’s book, “bladerunner” refers to someone running medical supplies (e.g., scalpels) on the black market. As the treatment was not chosen for further development, Burroughs adapted it into a novella, Blade Runner (a movie), in 1979. The rights to both titles were purchased for Scott’s film.

It’s interesting to view the technology envisioned in 1982 with technology of today. While some of it seems dated (hefty monitors vs. today’s flat screens, etc.), other aspects are equivalent to modern standards. In on
e scene, Deckard examines a photograph by enhancing the image to better see the picture. The device that he uses not only employs voice recognition, but Deckard also gets a printout of the enlarged image. Later, Deckard makes a call to Rachael (Young) on a Vid-Phōn, a videophone version of a public phone booth.

The 10th year anniversary of Blade Runner was celebrated with a “Director’s Cut.” The cut that was shown to test audiences in 1982 was screened in 1990 and 1991 and purportedly inspired this version, which reinstated the aforementioned cut sequence, removed Deckard’s voice-over, and changed the studio-altered ending (which opted for a more upbeat conclusion). While the voice-over worked in establishing a film noir tone for Blade Runner, it was intrinsically superfluous and detracted from the solid cinematography and beautiful score, courtesy of Vangelis (who had just won an Academy Award for 1981s Chariots of Fire). The studio ending likewise was out of place, shifting the overall feel of the movie. While the “Director’s Cut” was completed without Scott’s involvement, the director authorized the “Final Cut,” which was released in 2007.

Blade Runner is a film of humans and non-humans alike examining what it means to be human. The blade runners expose the replicants by revealing an absence of emotion. The motto of the Tyrell Corporation (the corporation responsible for replicants) is “More Human Than Human.” Do the replicants, then, try too hard to be human? With implanted memories and a desire for longer life, the replicants do a fairly good impression of humans. “Quite an experience to live in fear, isn’t it?” Batty asks of Deckard near the film’s end, and perhaps this is the fear of which Batty speaks: that humanity is a learned trait, and that something other than humans is doing a better job of it.

10 comments:

  1. A truly excellent article, Sark, about one of my top favorites. You really dug into the psychology of the movie and characters, adding in interesting facts about the background, and you held my interest all the way through. I disagree with only one thing -- I did not like the director's cut as well. I thought the Ford voice-over was a wonderful film noir touch and thought the director's cut really suffered from deleting it. I must say I am not a real fan of director's cuts on the whole. Instead of a good tight movie, they usually end up being rather rambling and having scenes put back in that were taken out for a good reason in the first place. That isn't necessarily true here with Blade Runner, thank God, but I still think the original was better. But that's just one area of disagreement. Otherwise, you obviously love this movie as much as I do, and it shows with your in-depth review. Great job!!

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  2. Sark, I saw BLADE RUNNER when it was originally released and did not particularly like it. After enjoying a couple of scenes while channel surfing a few years ago, I decided to give the director's cut a chance. To my surprise, I found myself engrossed from start to finish. I was amazed at how much it had influenced the look of films set in the future. Indeed, the "dark" look of many later films, such as David Fincher's SEVEN, can be traced to BLADE RUNNER. You make a marvelous point in your review, suggesting that Earth has "outlived its vitality" (nicely put!). While I liked the voiceover in the original cut, I agree that it detracts from the film. As you said, BLADE RUNNER has much grander allusions than being just a futuristic film noir. As for the cast, Rutger Hauer is the standout for me, a talented actor who rarely got parts worthy of his talent.

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  3. Sark, you have written an excellent profile of a film that brought a new dimension to science fiction. I think it is interesting that Harrison Ford had key roles here, in the Star Wars trilogy, and the Indiana Jones quartet, dominating sci fi and fantasy.

    Your discussion on humanity was quite thoughtful. It reminded me of the Tin Man, arguably the most emotional of all the characters in Oz, lamenting the lack of a heart. It didn't stop him from feeling very strongly about many things.

    I enjoyed this blog immensely. Well done, all!

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  4. Every time I watch BLADE RUNNER, I forgive Ridley Scott for all the crappy movies he's made. This was an interesting review, really well done. Too bad Sean Young went all weird later in her career.

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  5. I forgot to mention -- Sean Young is STUNNING in this movie. My older brother, well into adulthood, had an enormous crush on her. I don't imagine very many men would have minded if she "retired" in just a few years. It would have been worth it. Of course, for me, Rutger Hauer was my crush. He is such a good actor and his look in this movie was marvelous.

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  6. Thank you for the compliments, everyone.

    Rick, I agree wholeheartedly about the influence of BLADE RUNNER, particularly the very dark cinematography. toto, Harrison Ford did indeed dominate the sci-fi/fantasy genres! I'm amazed that he's a significant part of two of the most popular trilogies of all time. Plus, this film and two Coppola classics.

    Milton, I, too, am not a fan of Ridley Scott's more recent work. It's hard to believe that the director of ROBIN HOOD also made BLADE RUNNER.

    Becky, I also had a crush on Sean Young, and, in fact, went on a Sean marathon, but she hasn't made very good movies, and BLADE RUNNER is still her most memorable. I didn't like the original voice-over because I thought the dialogue wasn't as sharp, and what Deckard was telling us was nothing that couldn't be surmised. Did you like or dislike the other changes in the "Director's Cut" -- the added sequence and the altered ending?

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  7. Sark, it's been too long since I saw the Director's Cut. Would you email me and remind me of the added sequence and alternate ending? That would spark my memory and give me a springboard for what I felt when I saw it.

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  8. When I first saw BLADE RUNNER in 1982 it was love at first sight. It's atmosphere, I thought, was one of the most striking things about it. Dark and dank - with an occasional glistening object or character. I was very taken with Deckard's ancient/modern apt., its look and mood, and researched it. Modeled on Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House (1924), the set designer had plaster casts made of the homes textile blocks (it's a textile block home in the "Mayan Revivalism" style - exotic enough?) and integrated them into the set. The courtyard of the home was used in an exterior shot of of Deckard's apt. building. It seems to me that Tyrell's penthouse also reflected this style...The house is in the Los Feliz area of L.A. - same neighborhood where Phyllis Dietrichson of DOUBLE INDEMNITY lived.

    Nice work on a great film, Sark.

    http://www.ennishouse.org/htmls/photo_page.htm

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  9. Sark, My husband and son, also really enjoyed this movie. The music was wonderful when combined with what I thought a film Noir style cinematography. Thank you writting such a fun blog.

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  10. I like Blade Runner and thought is was very original for the time it was made. I agree with Rick that it is dark, but it needs to be to show where humanity has gone. I like Ridley Scott and thought he deserved the Oscar for best director for this movie. I also like Scott's Alien which is great!! Any movie with Harrison Ford in it is good to me. Talk about the luckiest actor in the world, it has to be Ford. He went from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Witness, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Air Force One, and wow...The Fugitive. Can't beat roles like that. Enjoyed your review.

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