Is this the face of 2019?

Blade Runner (1982) – A Review

Director ~ Ridley Scott

Producer ~ Michael Deeley

Writers ~ Hampton Fancher, David Peoples

Starring ~ Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos

Blade Runner is the pure definition of a cult film. When released in the 80s it was both a box office and critical failure but since then has become a highly influential, early pioneer of neo noir in film. It is set in the urban, dystopian future of 2019 where Los Angeles is a polluted, cultural melting point. The visuals are stunning, creating this highly stylistic cityscape that is both high tech and decaying. The soundtrack is also fantastic written by Greek composer, Vangelis, who combines classical music with synthesizers to create a surreal, futuristic sound. The constant rain, and omnipresent night give the film a melancholic atmosphere that heightens the isolation of the main character, Richard Deckard. 

The film follows the ex-cop and ‘Blade Runner’, Deckard (Harrison Ford), who is brought back by the authorities to perform one last assignment. He must track a group of replicants, manufactured robots that look identical to humans, and 'retire' them. Replicants were made by Tyrell Corporation for dangerous or laborious work in off-world colonies and are not allowed on Earth. The real beauty in the story isn’t so much the plot itself, but how the replicants make us consider humanity and the consequences of mastering genetic engineering. The replicants appear to display human qualities so what is it distinguishing them from people that allows them to be used, essentially, as slaves without any moral consequence? In order to discover replicants, empathy tests are used to check for their 'humanness' - yet funnily as the film develops the replicants show more compassion for each other than the actual people do causing the audience to re-examine what it is to be human.  The film also looks at the effect of technologic advances on the environment and the human race.  Additionally there is a strong aura of oppression from the constant presence of police and dominating corporations. 

For a science fiction film it was ground breaking as it has remarkable depths and managed to blend together the film noir and sci-fi genres seamlessly. The performances were good, but the directing is what makes this movie the classic that it is. Ridley Scott creates an intoxicating world that will have you going back for more time and time again. This film is truly a work of art. 

Favourite Quotes ~

Leon: Nothing is worse than having an itch you can never scratch! 

Tyrell: "More human than human" is our motto.

Gaff: It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? 

Deckard: Sushi. That's what my ex-wife called me - cold fish.

Dying to Live

Harold and Maude (1971) – A Review 

Director ~ Hal Ashby

Producers ~ Colin Higgins, Charles B. Mulvehill

Writers ~ Colin Higgins

Starring ~ Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort

A bizarrely touching film, this dark comedy tells the story of a young man, Harold (Bud Cort) who falls in love with a 79-year old woman called Maude (Ruth Gordon). Sounds strange right? Well it is. To add to this Harold is morbidly obsessed with death to the extent that he fakes these extravagant ‘deaths’ and spends his spare time hanging out at funerals. He is deeply introverted and seems to struggle to relate to anyone around him, especially his overbearing mother. Along comes Maude with her infectious kookiness and zest for life. As a survivor of World War II, she believes in the idea of a higher purpose and appreciating every day. The director uses this stark contrast between these two characters as a social commentary on American generations. Harold lives in the shadow of a meaningless war and is experiencing an existential crisis whilst Maude comes from a time of revolution giving her life more substance.

The music, by Cat Stevens, is fantastic and fits perfectly in each scene and the cinematography gives you a grainy, 70s feel that fits the simplicity of the film. The characters are quirky, especially the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ that is Maude. This term is used to describe a particular type of female role in film described by the film critic, Nathan Rabin, as ‘that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.’ This seems to sum Maude up quite well.

In the end Harold finally learns to appreciate life and Maude dies leaving Harold heartbroken and alone once more. It seems that the director is trying to say that you cannot truly die until you have experienced life fully and, through Maude, gave Harold a chance to discover this. All in all, I would not say that I loved this film but it was certainly interesting in its strangeness. It is worth a watch for its dark comedic gags and to see Ruth Gordon’s performance as the loveable Maude.

Favourite Quotes ~

Maude: Harold, everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much. 

Harold: I haven't lived. I've died a few times. 

Maude: Well, if some people get upset because they feel they have a hold on some things, I'm merely acting as a gentle reminder: here today, gone tomorrow, so don't get attached to things now. With that in mind, I'm not against collecting stuff.

Maude: A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. But play as well as you can.

The Hedonistic 70s

Dazed and Confused (1993) – A Review

Director ~ Richard Linklater

Producers ~ Richard Linklater, Sean Daniel, James Jacks

Writer ~ Richard Linklater

Starring ~ Jason London, Rory Cochrane, Wiley Wiggin, Adam Goldberg, Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck

Derived from the name of a Led Zeppelin song, Dazed and Confused looks at the youth culture of the 1970s in a similar way that ‘American Graffiti’ did for the 1960s. Capturing the essence of the rebellious, pot smoking 70s teenager, this movie boasts a fantastic soundtrack and fun vibe. It follows a group of high graduates enjoying their final night, and the induction of the young, freshmen ‘meat’ who will ultimately follow in their footsteps to become the next senior class.  The hazing rituals are borderline sadistic, which juxtapose the otherwise relaxed atmosphere of the film. Linklater perfectly captures this laid back attitude with a talented ensemble cast and hilarious script. The characters are almost caricatures of American high school clichés with the paddle bearing macho-jock, played perfectly by Ben Affleck and the typical stoner kid (Rory Cochrane). It displays a time in teen's lives where all that really matters is hanging out with your friends and 'ruling' the school.

It is not an overly complex or meaningful film but it perfectly captures the hedonism of the 70s in a raw manner. The movie is unstructured and ends with the football star rebelling against ‘The Man’ who tries to get him to sign a behavioral contract in order to stay on the team. However, this lack of structure reflects the nature of the era. Personally, I loved it because it doesn’t try to reach too far out of what it is – a coming of age high school film about a lost decade of carelessness and revolution.

This is a photo I fell in love with of my friend, Amy's, afro haired mother smoking a cigarette on the grass with that free spirited joy that sums up what the 70s were all about.

The 70s were times following years of war, and individuals being boxed into superficial stereotypes as dictated by society, where people fought for freedom and the right not to govern their lives by rules. Maybe it was not the most productive way of thinking, but it was a different one and for that reason I love the 1970s and I love this film.

Favourite Quotations ~

Mike: I'm just trying to be honest about being a misanthrope.

Mitch: Man I hate that guy!

Simone: You act like you're so oppressed. You guys are kings of the school. What are you bitching about?

Cynthia: I'd like to quit thinking of the present, like right now, as some minor, insignificant preamble to somethin' else.

Tony: NeoMcCarthyism, I like that.

Wooderson: Man, it's the same bullshit they tried to pull in my day. If it ain't that piece of paper, there's some other choice they're gonna try and make for you. You gotta do what Randall Pink Floyd wants to do man. Let me tell you this, the older you do get the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man, L-I-V-I-N.

Wooderson: That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age.