• Opens with a retelling of a story – intertexuality - instantly opens up the plot to the viewer and reveals past events. It hints of a parody upon ‘Star Wars’, with the opening credits following a brief summary plot, alongside the letters slowly moving upwards out of sight of the screen. This area also hints at a future tense, with DNA and cloning being achieved through ‘Replicants’, which is a future-inspired idea. This opening tells of this being in the past, so therefore the present of this telling must be delved immensely into the future – combining futuristic ideas/elements in the first area of the film. Therefore, upsetting the mainstream themes and conventions of cinema, through its distorted narrative structure.
• Through the opening, ideas are allowed to be expressed. The use of block white letters on black background may reveal the past events – with what is going to happen in the film – but no images (the cinema’s main aim of producing a story) are revealed, therefore the viewer is allowed time to interpret what these ‘replicants’ and ‘blade runners’ appear like, and what they may do. Also, the time of the story when set is not revealed, adding to an ambiguous state from the viewer. They are, therefore, forced to represent their own elements of the film – more freedom, therefore.
• Two last sentences appear to linger, aiming to force feed this main area of the film into the audience’s mind.
• Whilst a brief moment passes as the audience can interpret their own views – shown through a black background – the date is then revealed: ‘LOS ANGELES NOVEMBER, 2019’ – introducing when the story will start. Automatically, we are thrown into the future
• A master shot reveals the city of LA, with typical dark bleak weather of November at that time, although fire and small bursts of explosions cover the city. This could hint that destruction will happen within the future, or it could relate to the ‘retirement’ of the replicants beforehand. Light covers most of the image, almost blocking out the sky, highlighting postmodern technology with electricity taking over and light being our source, corresponding with the progression of technology of life in the opening. An air craft comes towards the camera and dodges it, relating to people’s desires of flying casually through air in preference of land vehicles such as cars. This film reflects the progression of technology and equipment through the years. Large buildings – covering up over half of the shot vertically – also dominate the shot, adding to capitalism and urban areas dominating
• Use of individual’s eye watching flames could signify how small a human is at that time, in correlation to the progression of technology and these machines – futuristic element in the change of a human’s role?
• Enter large, dominating building – significant. Although blasts with lights and phenomenal in size, correlates present themes, with one building standing out in a city, being an importance to the state/ government, hospitals, etc...
• Present use of individual talking over microphone to indicate instructions, although use of technology in ‘test’ seems phenomena and OTT.
• Label on man’s chair ‘TYRELL CORP’ – highlights his importance. This correlates his costume and superiority in shot. He dresses like a business man/detective, relating to film noir classics. Quite stylish in presence.
• Hospital like, with man in present like robe – thrown into a ‘test’. Dominated by man – typical superiority from state man. An emotional test
• Mise-en-scene – the baroque is metal-like, with boarded metal panels for the walls and dimmed windows, showing enclosure. Like a police interview with large fan-like light above large table, interrupting them
• Man shocks with gun – typical present violence, highlighting it will occur in that day still. Man is allowed gun, which is unusual being allowed to trespass with it. Hints at laws or allowance in that time, although doesn’t correspond with previous tightly-fit laws
• OTT use of technology, with lights covering up shot and huge television. Man talking of speech – shows images/media control along with state? As well as technology and electricity being a high importance
• In street scene, usual weather of rain is shown with umbrellas (no change) and clothing similar to this day, highlight fashion has little change. Shown in Japan, following their customs through food and dress. Main character represented as a average guy in a jacket, reading a newspaper (media inflict largely still to that day, with typical day-to-day parts shown)
• Policeman not typical dressed – more stylish and relies on appearance – could highlight state control all over. Also change in way of arresting, as quite casual
• Police car dominates rest of setting, as futuristic and stylish. Shows force dominate all over – take over money? With civilians left in past as they carry on in our present. Use of gadgets in car is extreme, with monitors and coloured buttons – highlights change. Ford looking around almost uncomfortable shows civilians not used to change.
• Police station varies – huge and waste of space (not being used) so adds to state controlling, although typical present messy police man’s office, with food and junk everywhere – stereotypical.
• Policeman deceives man, forcing him into job, emphasizing force onto him to get what he wants
• Typical film noir representation through viewing room, with bleak, filtered, low-key lighting, typical cigarette/smoke, use of projector screening video, two men having conversation upon a case, etc...
• Futuristic combined in scene above, with information upon each client with their face in detail – in depth information upon each replicants.
• Ironic with use of high-tech futuristic and importance, although a ‘Coca-Cola’ advertisement is still inserted, adding to intertexuality- hint of ‘Flanerio’, of tourism through time (from Friedberg)
• Power relations overall suggest the state (mainly the police) control overall, whilst civilians hide underneath their flying equipment and electricity and aim to live the norm underneath.
• Men dominate, with one woman on ‘blade runner’ side – patriarchal, although hints of dominant females
• Little knowledge of animals – ‘do you like our owl?’ ARTIFICIAL, so reference to extinct animals and produced as replicants instead. Not natural and less normal – may relate to the deforestation and abuse humans were beginning to inflict upon the planet at the time of the film’s release, therefore acting as a warning through power relations.
• Correlated in next scene of how human’s disrupting planet, through the use of constant rain – weather affected dramatically in future?
• Repetition of ‘Coca Cola’ advertisement, highlighting little resources in future from humans, with possible dependency upon certain drinks/foods. Also adds to their layers of communication, with the media being the main way of attracting the consumer
• Film noir references repeated throughout with low key lighting, outfits of hats/formal coats, detective like cases (e.g. torch), the blinds blocking out light, but ironic how contrasts with outside with dominant bright lights – could be a layer of pretend from outside. Woman could represent the dominant femme fatale character
• Blonde man follows eighties style, near release, with peroxide air and leather-like cape – follows style of the present of its release
• Contrast in imagery, with present bicycles with innocent children riding together, with a hint of crime with burning flames over writing. May represent graffiti and vandalism of the period, whilst individuals just carry on without looking, hinting of some references to this present day
• Change of setting with ice room – like an Inuit – although indoors. Experiments in doors with reliance on weather hint at a sci-fi theme, adding further genres to film
• Multi-cultural, with Americans/English individuals corresponding together within a Japanese society, although struggles upon their language, adding to barriers still inflicted culturally in the future.
• Contrast from present tunnel to decaying, urban area – highlights the present deteriorating
• Unusual idea of a flat/apartment – Egyptian-like stone walls in criss-cross shapes; with low key un-homely characteristics, although Mise-en-scene is typical, with draws, books and chair/TV hinting at a home.
• Use of metalepse , with multi-voiced storyline, as we cross from Harrison Ford to two ‘baddy’ males who appear to be corrupting violence/disruption
• Memories from character through photographs combine with reliance of memory to follow bizarre storyline from viewer
• Woman shown with punk-like clothes, indicating those from the 80’s era – a present feature from that time. Could reflect individuals are quite open with clothing during then, still taking pieces from the past.
• Bin man has progressed although conventions still follow, with grubby clothes/bin bags/slow yellow van cleaning streets. However, car is modernised and he has a rubber hat, hinting at jobs progressing through the eras
• Midget-like servants with bizarre voices – ‘they’re my friends I made them’ – in a casual tone, thought as the norm during that time. Casual/taking advantage of life, but highlights progression/development within the future
• Use of Ford’s dream eccentric/bizarre, as appears like the present with a forest like setting, although a mystical character – Unicorn – runs through. Highlights his exasperated imagination during the entrapped period, with how he can’t separate reality from the bizarre. Could show his inspirations/dreams, or just how he remembers the past
• Technology progressed as he talks to a machine to instruct it, rather than relying/inspecting a scene/computer himself. Shows amazing development of technology. Combination of communication with photography, a computer and a printer
• Animal has code – structured and precise, although organised and demanding
• Women dancing in window in underwear – typical seductive, porn-like. However, they are wearing masks, adding to a robotic, unusual portrayal
• Dress at party bizarre, with eccentric but formal dress, with fancy dress costumes. A combination of fashion through time has been achieved through combining both pieces
• Communication progressed, with the constant use of calls to others through video calls,, adding to postmodern ‘cyber’ technology
• Contrast in only animals represented – from owls to snakes – both positive in appearance but repel in nature. Hint of fake snake again – ‘can’t afford a real snake’ – animals precious and rare then, as hinted with the owl beforehand, so therefore fakes are produced
• At this time, the indoors are mystical, as represented with the Indian music and decor. Contrasts from outside and other settings
• Man versus female – Ford chasing her, almost dominant as she gets away and punches him, etc... Man over rules in finale, however, by shooting and killing her.
• Snow weather – contrasts from sunny morning/rain – people’s clothing doesn’t suit for a harsh winter. Adds to pathetic fallacy, but also the punishment upon earth
• Menacing/extreme criminals found in robotic people of the future – highlights a scare or possible phenomena to come, acting as a warning to prevent such things.
• Guns still most used weapon
• Use of piano – historical element passed down generations in films to being played. Also later on with the use of chess
• Sexual elements, with camera focusing on woman for long periods of time, with Harrison taking advantage and forcing himself on her. Although romantic, a bit forceful, with man dominating through sex
• Bizarre make-up thought of as the norm, with extremes. Shows further progressions with fashion. Adds to bizarre scene, with strange ornaments inside a metal room, with the unusual servants
• Hint of abandonment if ‘can’t pass the medical’ – therefore, have to fit into a certain set within society, to then fit in overall and become one with society – unfair and secluded
• People categorized with codes and numbers
• Man affected by outside world, with cells ageing too early – corruption of world inflicts this
• Scientific experiments/discoveries still occurring – therefore scientists still aiming for answers and needs from life
• Horror element in ‘replicant’ attacking man and killing him, with the combination of dramatic choir like music combined with abuse/blood, making this death seem unholy
• Grime-like streets, with little combined with rain adding to a ‘social decay’. Adds to small people throwing abuse and objects around, with attacking Ford’s car – compliments each other
• Huge, epic building left for the gutter – waste of space, although could be ideal. Adds to the waste society throws behind, combining with the space, people, food, etc... Relates to outside, with the ‘social decay’ theme. Forgotten
• Horror/sci-fi elements combined with the robotic replicant screaming and bleeding/crying, adding to scare but shock, in an impressive technological sense
• Highlights the damage of making the replicates, as they here become violent, as well as the hint beforehand of them developing emotions, as shown with the male crying over the death of the female – which adds to their human characteristics, which could inflict Ford abusing murder. However, he has been assigned, showing his occupation is more important and overtakes the deed. The replicant is obviously emotionally fragile, as uses hand to block its emotions and actions – as shown beforehand through a flash back of a clenched hand. Shows the danger of replicating a human, as they cannot control themselves
• Criminal action like, as Ford climbs building through escape, while argue headlights repeatedly follow his movements. Replicant is scary, as uses rhymes – similar to ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’, hinting at intertextuality – as well as appearing crazed, like a mad-man murderer, adding to further plot twists. Has a game of cat and mouse, as they follow each other to catch each person
• Dramatic as Ford almost falls off building – intertexutality/similarities found from ‘Vertigo’
• Single bird adds to lonesome animals, corresponding with the lonesome, suicidal replicant.
• Communication found between viewer and character, as he points gun at camera – almost self-referential, but lures the viewer into interpretations and an interruption. Ambiguous as the main character almost communicates with the viewer
• Leaves the viewer guessing at the end, as they have to rely on remembrance from a small shot previously found in the film for the narrative to set in place. However, key characters continue to move on through their missions, adding to the need of cognitive reliance, focusing on the details and the freedom with interpretation through the use of possible multiple endings.
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