Ridley Scott's Original "BLADE RUNNER"

Elegant within it’s cyber punk, dystopian madness “Blade Runner” stands momentously as a cinematic mild stone, a classic that continues to delight, bewilder, beguile and intrigue. You’re right; I am a fan. Former art director Ridley Scott set out to create something marvelous. He achieved just that as he eclipsed his himself and his magnificent crew’s original daring visions. Together they discovered (created) that rare wonder; a masterpiece of cinema and in that including of all of art and creativity.

The film as a whole is purely a visual splendor. Every performance to note from Harrison Ford to Sean Young to Rutger Hauer to Edward James Olmos to Daryl Hannah and M. Emmet Walsh is pitch perfect, nuanced and individually unique. The score is rich, enchanting, futuristic and reflective of an earlier form; the film noir. This atmospheric, dark, foggy acid rain refracting look is hypnotic and equally contributing to the film’s narrative. Former Police Officer/Blade Runner Rick Deckard must hunt down and “retire a group of super sophisticated, self-aware renegade androids (Replicants) and “retire” them.

The inspiration and basis of the film is the Phillip K. Dick Sci-Fi novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” It is a well-executed and provocative work that bears almost no resemblance to Scott’s film. I am guessing that it was Scott’s intention to do so.   

The film was not originally a huge hit. It was far too radical, distinctive and for all general purposes dark for that. How many times does the general public adapt and gravitate to the new and daring? It is an even rarer thing and in many ways a compliment to go unnoticed and unheralded at first encounter. I saw it at least four times in 1982 the summer of it’s release. Imagine too; that the lead, Harrison Ford was not a star in his own right at the time. He had appeared in “Star Wars” in 1977 a few years before but it was “Blade Runner” that established his remarkable and unique super stardom along with years of long and continuing acting successes.  

The iconic Poster (Left) features Deckard and Rachel above the aerial view of the fabled acid rain drenched city of the then future (2019) Los Angelos. Original versions of the poster retail for as much as $2,000.

Much of the visuals and themes of “Blade Runner” are influenced by the look of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis.” It is a fitting homage of sorts to Lang’s film. It is also truly in the same vein of the H.G. Wells book “The Shape of Things to Come.” 

The film has gone through a number of rereleases and subsequent director’s cuts. It is the original 1982 release with the matter of fact and often nuanced voice over by Deckard (Harrison Ford) that was the most striking and entertaining incarnation that I most completely enjoyed. The eloquent and somewhat world weary voice added the right touch with the “film noir” over tones and feel of the production.

 As of date the seminal “Blade Runner” is without equal or legitimate successor. The film does create many questions in plot and purpose. One major question concerns who and what Deccard himself might actually be. The original cut of the movie alluded to in several instances and tone to the possibility of the Deckard character being himself a replicant. The final director’s cut of the film (2007) attempts to clear up the discrepancies. A dream sequence featuring a startled and running unicorn is held by Deckard in his sleep. The dream along with a strategically placed origami unicorn by the Gaff character late in the film serves as an explanation of sorts. The inference is that Gaff is privy to Deckard’s programmed and implanted dreams. This can be interpreted as a true explanation or the subject for more confusion; the debate continues.The mostly unsuccessful and lackluster sequel “Blade Runner 2049” attempts to expand, to enhance and explain other elements of the original film; the attempt was futile. In my imagination there was no need for a sequel or expansion and it falls far short of the original. Many, many films need no sequel and the attempt to extend their narratives are hackneyed, lackluster attempts at best but well the subjects for further debate. 

VIDEO

 Animation Depicting Events Between Original Film and "Blade Runner 2049"

Another superb outing for director Scott was the “1984” titled commercial for the Apple PC that aired during the 1984 Super bowl. The commercial is a response to the George Orwell novel. It is considered by many aficionados and experts to be one of the greatest commercials of stated history.  See it here as originally and nationally viewed in January of said year.  

Until and if ever eclipsed Scott remains the pre-eminent and unchallenged champion of the cyber punk, the fantastic world of film experimentation and it’s successful execution!

Her Favorite Thing Is Monsters!

By every standard Emil Ferris is a great artist. Her work is moving, provocative, masterful, entertaining, and just fantastically original and down-right good. Now; on to the Monsters. Like the majority of Emil’s fans it was her breakout graphic novel “My favorite Thing is Monsters” that first got my attention. The title alone was a grabber for me. I have personally always loved monsters too; yes, a true love. Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, the Phantom of The Opera; those familiar guys and many other classics dominates my bed room like those of, I imagine, a lot of kids from my generation. They were there as small plastic sculpture/models that I painstakingly assembled like a mad scientist. There were magazines and comic books too. Whenever “The Wolf Man,” “The Thing” or “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms” aired I was in front of our television, regardless of time of day. I remember my beloved Grandmother saying; “You like all that weird stuff.” My response was: “Well, Yea…I do.”  It didn’t seem weird to me. In fact it made perfect sense. I associated them with religion, mythology, psychology and society as great works of literature and art. I’m sure Emil Ferris would agree. 

 

The Ferris debut work (MFTIM) is as mentioned before as masterful as it is beautiful and an inspiration. Her opening debut to the world stage is every bit as fantastic as her subject matter. She keeps it equally personal and intimate in turn. She explores her awakening sexuality, cultural norms and coming of age. It is a love letter to the discovery of truth and beauty through the study and observation of art.  She does all this while wrapping her narrative in a murder mystery. This is surly enough to satisfy the most demanding of audiences. She skillfully ties it all together while presenting it in great style that is most assuredly her own and uniquely so. 

Ferris chooses to execute her illustrations on compositional notebook paper which gives the work a personal touch. Every aspiring artist and young person begins drawing with lined paper I’m sure. This is a connection to her own past as well as the masses she is reaching with her efforts. What she is putting down is far indeed from any kiddie stuff. 

Ferris often faithfully recreates works of the great academics such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Winslow Homer. She does an incredible take on Henry Fuseceli’s “The Nightmare” that is truly to marvel.  Her work; rightfully so, has been feature in the most prominent art magazine of the day “Art Forum” a welcome validation and honoring of her achievements and uncanny abilities.

Think of “My Favorite Thing Is Monsters” when you think of “Maus,” “Persepolis,” “Sin City,” “The Arrival,” “God’s Man” or Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman.” It is comfortable among the best of the genre and like the other fore mentioned also rates among other works of “High Art.” Ferris fits nicely on the book shelf with Wells, Shelly, Bradbury and Hugo. 

                                                                                                                          

She presents herself with an elegance of presence and off beat flair; a character unto herself. I will not be surprised to see her cast one future day by Guillermo del Toro for one of his screen plays. What an asset she would be to any production. 

No problem, no fear.

The Historical Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

 January Twenty, Twenty Twenty-one; the healing has already begun. A new national tone already beginning.  It has been a great day for the republic; our democratic republic. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was sworn into office as the forty sixth president of the United States of America. The magnanimous event was marked by wonderful performances, readings and a bold display of the best of the hearts and minds of the nation’s most talented. The featured included Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks along with lesser known poet Amanda Gorman. Each were equally amazing and gracious in their contributions.  The inauguration was attended by and included members of both political parties. I send out a personal thank you to former Vice President Mike Pence for his participation and gestures of dignity and a true loyalty to honor, the national spirit and the greater good. 

President Biden’s speech was perfect in tone and content. His sincerity, commitment and dedication all evident throughout. Joe Biden believes in America and its people in a uniquely unselfish way. We will be all the better because of the manner and ways he has served until now in addition to what he will enact and contribute in the near and not so distant future. His tenure as Commander in Chief will prove to be transformative.

It was no easy road culminating in Biden’s and Harris’ arrival to the White House.  The campaign season in itself was alarming, chaotic and especially brutal. Multiple legal cases were subsequently attempted in efforts to overturn the election results.  The cases were as quickly extinguished and dismissed as they were brought to court rooms and before judges.  In a final effort lies and reckless incitement created and fed to the masses in an attempted coup d état lead to the storming of the US Capitol building   by violent armed thugs. Waving the flags of their racists and anti-Semitic heroes from past and now present insurrections with chants of death threats toward particular members of congress were among the worst travesties seen in our contemporary times. A troop contingency of over thirty thousand National Guard’s Men and Women, miles of razor wire and road blocks coupled with over Two  Hundred arrests were enough to dissuade the “Goon Squad’s” return today. 

Distrust, fear, hate, disdain for humanity and social justice have marred the nation for the last four years in unpresented ways. The new administration challenges thou many are already being addressed. Executive orders were signed even today. Biden’s team and we (the nation’s citizens) will prevail. America survives; the presidential torch has passed, the systems of laws prevail. With the power of the vote; we the citizens, the faithful, the believers in something good and decent share this victory. We seize and glory in this day. We are an army of workers and achievers. The night mare of the previous administration has ended. A brighter, better era begins. This time for celebration is ours!