Topic: Cinema
Dana's never seen Blade Runner.
Not in any incarnation.
I got the new remastered "Final Cut" of the film just before Christmas, but when I saw it was going to be playing at the Castro, I figured that was the place to introduced Dana to it.
So, we went tonight. And I *finally* remembered to use a present Sherri got for me year before, a pass good for two tickets and snacks at the Castro. I was afraid it was so old it had expired! I always forgot it. Thanks, Sherri!
After a pre-movie cocktail, we headed for the line and found...a line. A lot of people had turned out. Luckily, the seats Dana wanted weren't taken—at the back, on the riser which puts you high enough above the other seats that no person's big hair, hat or height is going to block your view.
The film got started and at first people cheered the obvious credits. Then some people cheeered less obvious credits. And then some wags decided to "woo hoo" minor credits. Ironically, no one cheered the Production Designer or the Cinematographer. Philistines...
I'm not going to do a full blown review the film here except to say I didn't like it much in it's original 1982 incarnation, and found myself becoming more enamored of it with the early 90s Director's Cut which wasn't. I like the Final Cut best, albeit it's only slightly different from the Director's Cut.
Dana liked the movie, but I can tell he didn't love it. And that's what I always expect. Blade Runner's a difficult movie. It rewards repeat viewings because you see stuff you didn't before. Didn't see that unicorn in Sebastian's apartment the first time. Tyrell's office and apartments are festooned with symbols of birds. Leon has a collection of photos, Deckard's piano's littered with them. It adds up the more you watch it.
I maintain that it's a film that works in spite of itself. It missteps all over the place. There are continuity errors galore, and things that just don't make sense, but what works is so strong that it manages to make the other issues seem trivial. It's also a smart movie...it doesn't explain everything. You're left to decide for yourself what various things mean. And this isn't necessarily sloppiness...it's just the filmmakers realized where explanation didn't matter and left it out, leaving it up to you to figure out why.
But it's got some of my favorite movie lines of all time, like: "All those moments will be lost. Like tears in rain."
And how can you top this capper?
"It's too bad she won't live. But then again, who does?"
