You love Blade Runner because it’s a hot mess.
It overcame problems, oddities, and a difficult production to become a masterpiece.
If you thinkBlade Runneris a masterpiece, youre right.
When science fiction is considered good, its often because its messages are contrary to the status quo.
Stillcall it brilliance or call it testinessDick had a hard time dealing with screenwriters.
Instead, they believed there was a marketable and even mainstream film hiding in its pages.
Stars Ford and Sean Young (who played the replicant Rachael) hated each other.
The crew hated Ridley Scott.
After throwing numerous fits, Dickwrote a lettersaying the movie was awesome.
Scott almost signed up to make a totally different movie,Dune.
Blade Runnerseems like itneededconflict.
Perhaps its in the whirling conflicts and contradictions whereBlade Runners unique energy and crackle is so keenly felt.
On the contrary, they somehow make Ridley Scotts sullen, depressive mood piece more quirkilyalive.
We need to know it all!
The great voiceover debate is a perfect synecdoche for debunking nearly all discussions aboutBlade Runner.
Before I read SammonsFuture Noir,I believed the facts concerning Fords sleepy narration were cut-and-dry.
read more: How Blade Runner 2049 Expands on the Original
So, whats the deal?
How could a voiceover be both forced upon Scott and also his idea?
But that opinion was expressed by people who hadalreadyseen the picturewiththe narration.
So, do you really hate the voiceover in the originalBlade Runner, or is it a fan-ish effect?
Did you dream of a unicorn last night?
Were you programmed to dream of it?
Its one error was to present too much for the average viewer.
read more: Blade Runners Forgotten Replicants
Its in the inherent identity crisis whereBlade Runnerbecomes its most imperfectly perfect.
Even its nameBlade Runnerisnt taken from Dicks novel.
Its a phrase that has power and represents the movie without having to explain it.
What does Blade Runner mean to us now?
But now its considered one of the best science fiction movies ever made.
Which is exactly what happened toBlade Runner, over and over again.
Thankfully, evenBlade Runnerdoesnt know.
Ryan Brittis the author of the bookLuke Skywalker Cant Read and Other Geeky Truths(Plume/Penguin Random House).
it’s possible for you to find more of his workhere.
