I recently watched Blade Runner, a future film noir that deals with themes of religion and . The religious symbolism is subtle at times The Replicants, the
androids who are portrayed as the antagonists, are on a search for
their maker. Harrison Ford's character Daggard is tasked with hunting
them down and shutting them down. Considering that Tyrell is the
creator of the Replicants; he can be seen as “God” with Roy,
playing the prodigal son, Lucifer. The Nexus 6
Replicants are a symbol of Lucifer and the fallen angels that sided
with him against their father. Lucifer defied God because he wanted
to make himself better than the humans his father created. Lucifer
was banished for this and trying to start an uprising in Heaven. In
the film, Roy sets out to prolong the lifespan of himself and his
brethren. When that proved impossible, he destroyed his creator.
Daggard is Michael, the good son and the one that banished Lucifer
and his comrades. At the end of their fight, Roy (Lucifer) redeems
himself and saves Daggard (Michael) and compares his memories to that
of tears in the rain. In his four years, Roy saw things no man could
fathom nor experience. As he dies, the dove flies away almost as a
symbol of his soul or the Holy Spirit going back to Heaven.
The scene near the end where Daggard and Roy are on the roof creates a rhythm. As Daggard is hanging off of the steel beam above the alley, the shot switches to an over the shoulder shot of Roy as he jumps the chasm. The focus switches back to Daggard as he watches Roy leap over him. The rhythm is created when the two stare each other down for what seems the last time. The camera focus switches between their gazes and Daggard's hands slipping on the beam. The rhythm ultimately ends with Roy grabbing Daggard's hand at the tension's climax.
The use of shadows and total contrast strengthens the theme that living in fear makes one a slave. The dark shadows contain our worst
fears and the darkness of the film hides all the dangers that lurk in
these shadows. If we live in fear constantly, we can never progress
as individuals nor achieve out dreams. If not for the constant
theater doors being opened and shut, the tension built around the
shadows and the threats they concealed would have drove the theme
home.
Blade runner directed by Ridley Scott is a film adapted from an original novel written by Philip Dick called “Do androids dream of Electric Sheep?” Right in the beginning the first shot of the dark metropolis reflects how the feel of this time and age is going to be. With the deep space and the complementing lights that stood out creating heavy shadows gives a dark undertone on the general feel of the metropolis. Following the wide shot of the city comes a back fourth questioning scene going from a man who seems on the edge and another who seems to be provoking a sort of disturbance on the other man. As the shots go back and forth a wide shot of the space you see between the two men gives the impression that the interview of questions itself is simply a formality. As the the man is finally pushed over the edge of his sanity he stands and points his arm with a gun diagonally hinting trouble and shoots the interviewer. Following the climax of that scene comes another wide shot of the metropolis is shown showing tall vertical buildings showing stability but some are slanted due to the angle which reflects the dismal setting and deep space shown.
ReplyDeleteAs the camera comes down and passes a crowd of people the camera fixates on Decker showing he is the focus view from this point on. As Decker walks from a sidewalk in the rain to get something to eat he is approached by two men from the shadows. As Decker sits and responds to the men very passively an upward shot of the man instigating a problem is shown and he is clearly diagonal hinting he is a problem and an immediate one. As Decker is led to a vehicle he is taken through the sky's of the dark metropolis. The camera is then showing a far view of Deckers transport vehicle flying through the dark yet radiant advertisements that appear to have relevance to the overall plot scheme.
Debris of Titan is Winston Dunlop
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