2. Blade Runner (1982)
Every so often films have a hellish production. Things get so bad that they become etched in the actual identity of the film. Titles such as Apocalypse Now and Gone With The Wind carry with them a plethora of horror stories, anecdotes and life lessons. In 1982 Scott breathed a sigh of relief as he finally released Blade Runner, and with it off loaded nearly a year of walk outs, arguments, fights, budget cuts and unresponsive union workers. The finished product was met with mixed to negative reviews. The man who had been in Oscar territory with his last release, was now nearly on the rubbish tip with this one. Outside of this, the one man who mattered most was actually very impressed with what he had seen prior to his death - shortly before the films release. Philip K. Dick had seen a 20+ minute preview of Blade Runner in 1981, and was quoted saying: I recognized it immediately. It was my own interior world. They caught it perfectly. Despite the short sighted criticisms, Blade Runner has lived on as a cult classic and is now considered one of Scotts best works and one which Scott himself calls extremely personal. Evocative gothic glam and an almost dreamlike quality are perfectly augmented by Vangelis semi-erotic new wave score. Classic Scott themes of anti-establishmentarianism and outcast protagonists start to come into formation here, and his unique visual style is prevalent in its most undiluted form. Blade Runner is a proper example of science fiction. Original Critical Responses:
"The obligatory love affair is pro forma, the villains are standard issue, and the climax is yet one more of those cliffhangers, with Ford dangling over an abyss by his fingertips. The movie has the same trouble as the replicants: Instead of flesh and blood, its dreams are of mechanical men." -Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)
" has its own look, and a visionary sci-fi movie that has its own look can't be ignoredit has its place in film history" but "hasn't been thought out in human terms." -Pauline Kael (Take It All In) Supplement Your Viewing With: Black Rain (1989) Body of Lies (2008)