Kubris

Early buzz made me apprehensive about Blade Runner 2049- "What if it's been so long since the first that its appeal is confounded by sympathy?" was a thought that ran through my head. But I was wrong. 2049 is one of an elite few sequels that justifies its existence, but more importantly it is an excellent film in its own right that respects the shadow of its predecessor without hiding in it or deviating into something unrecognizable.

I could describe the tone of 2049 as the feeling you get when you sit in a big chair after a workout. There is a sense of relaxation mixed with lingering pain and psychological excitation. 2049 does not rush, taking its time to tell its story over 2 and a half hours. There is a bleakness in its vision of society which seemed even harsher than the original's did, notably 2049's subtle inclusion of climate change as a motif. This mixes with a familiar visual design of neon lights, billboards, and persistent rain which is strangely comforting. The score is a high point, respectfully incorporating aspects of Vangelis' dreamy synthesizers with modern and amazingly thunderous bass. The sounds of 2049 perfectly summarize its engaging atmosphere.

As a brief aside, I'd like to mention my thoughts on one aspect of how dystopia has changed over the past 35 years. Old money Tyrell is gone, and the role of industrialist Wallace is now played by the much younger Jared Leto. I think this is appropriate and reflective of the times where tech giants are run by the young and savvy, exemplified by Mark Zuckerberg. Wallace has a serious god complex evident in how he speaks, and time will see if reality follows suit.

I'd really like to emphasize how wonderfully audio-visual 2049 is. The various settings are mesmerizing, and even though it is easy to get focused on the plot, taking time to simply absorb the colours and design is enjoyable on its own. The original had some simple images that have since been burned into my mind, such as Deckard sipping a drink and having a little of his own blood diffuse into the drink as he puts it down. The same effect occurs here, but without any feeling of inferiority or deliberate attempt to match its predecessor.

What truly validates 2049 is its plot and major themes. I won't say anything about the plot, but will say that it wonderfully scaled. This is a small but significant story in a bigger world of problems, and the film doesn't try to solve everything or make grand, sweeping statements. The film respects your intelligence, not spelling out how devices work or where K goes in certain sequences. It's up to you to arrive at conclusions. Sometimes sci- fi gets scared it alienates its audience and will over-explain; 2049 does not. The most significant strength of this film is that it explores current and relevant issues surrounding life and technology, building upon the original but having its own angle and introducing its own ideas. Ultimately, 2049 takes risks that contemporaries such as Star Wars did not, and they pay off.

Blade Runner 2049 is truly excellent. I spent a lot of time discussing its relation to the original here so you don't have to as you see it. This film stands on its own, and I believe it will continue to in years to come. Time will tell if it has the influence on other works that made its predecessor such a giant in the genre. ****/****

Few people will be able to completely uproot their lives and begin it again, but that Lester Burnham's journey in American Beauty: he wipes his hands clean of his pitifully ordinary life and lives life how he wants with his own goals. And to see it is thrilling.

Of course there's a little more to it than a hasty decision to turn it around. Several factors converge in this extraordinarily tight drama: Lester discovers his daughter's friend Angela, a 90s Lolita. He also finds his bland job to be on wobbly ground, and lastly he gets new neighbours, a military family with a strange boy, Ricky. These together create a change in the meek Lester and create a magnificent film.

The real question I had after seeing this film was: "What's wrong with American Beauty?" and then I couldn't answer my question. I'll start with the most well- known aspect of the film, its acting. The entire cast is sharp as their respective characters. Led by Kevin Spacey as Lester, original Yes Man ("I rule!"), you will find something relateable in at least one of the characters, good or bad. Their personalities and actions are entertaining, their motives are all there, and if a character is intended to be likable, you will like them. It's just as a good film should be: honest and unforced, but with just an edge to help you in the right direction.

I've briefly mentioned how tight American Beauty is. The plot is wonderfully self contained but also organic, it feels very plausible. There's a reason things happened as they did when they did. I can't find any plot holes. Much credit has to be given to the script and writers, and bonus points for being an original idea when so many excellent dramas have "Based on" in their credits.

But more than characters, plot and script, American Beauty is also visually wonderful. While much of it is observed as life is, Lester's fantasies have a brilliantly symbolic and colourful side making them stand out as more than dreams. This leads to the deeper aspects of the film, such as recurring symbols, numerous metaphors (the bag...) and of course the moral.

For a film concentrating on failure, I found a very positive message out of the film, and that was to enjoy life and all the beautiful things in it, and to never trap yourself. Like the tag, look closer, find yourself looking past the black and white (into the red?) and see beauty. It all sounds cheesy, but unlike Spacey's later work Pay It Forward, it doesn't come off the screen that way.

From a cynic to seizing the day, American Beauty is a dark film with a big smiley face over it that blends until its climax. An engrossing fiction that for many isn't too far from real life, I think this film can speak to people differently as you age, and that power to draw different meanings from different viewings is a sign of a true film. A full film and a fantastic way to close out a millennium. 9.4/10

I was very pleased with myself, having avoided absolutely everything about this Best Picture-winning classic. I have never seen a Paul Newman film before, and was disappointed by Redford as Gatsby. I didn't even know what this film was about. Absolutely nothing. And it made the film that much better.

The Sting is about con men performing 'the long con' on a shady banker, as revenge for a former partner. With throwback title cards we are walked through the process, which comes down to an elaborate gambling hoax. It was a bit frustrating to not know what was going on though. Not even the surface-level plan. And for a modern audience, 'straight poker' is a bit alien. Nonetheless, comprehending the plot is the most thinking you'll have to do during The Sting.

Don't expect a life-changing moral or social criticism: entertainment is the goal of this slick, 30's set robbery. Take it at face value, enjoy the genius writing and oh-so-cool leads, fall for every hook and have a few laughs: The Sting is lots of fun, 40 years on. 8.5/10