In my more recent blog entry I critically analyzed mis-en-scene in the movie Groundhog Day. I also compared cinematic art to actual content. By similarly analyzing Blade runner to Groundhog Day, and comparing some of the differences and similarities between the two films, we can more closely address the issue of content versus presentation and how the two aspects of film co-exist. The content of the two films in question are not as far out from one another as they may appear. Each addresses syfy-esk themes that create moral or ethical discourse and dilemma. Groundhog Day centers around a man who experiences the same day over and over again, his character develops as he is forced to accept and embrace his seemingly endless fate. Rick Deckard played by Harrison Ford in Blade Runner similarly experiences internal strife when dealing with half human androids who have been given the ability to feel as humans do. Ford’s character, Rickard, is a ‘Blade Runner’ who hunts down and terminates these robots. Rickard inevitably falls in love with one of these ‘replicants’ and is faced to address the morality of hunting down and killing something so close to human.
I am aware that comparing these two films may seem like a stretch, but bear with me. As previously stated in my last blog, the mis-en-scene used in Groundhog Day was lost on me. The movie was clever enough but was very tame and relatable. Both the cinematography and content were entertaining but mild at best. In my mind, Blade Runner presented the themes of the film in a more provoking manner. This could probably be attributed to the futuristic setting, giving the filmmakers room to interpret and predict what might be come 2019, as the movie was shot in the early 1980’s. Not only does the setting challenge what we know to be reality, the characters (specifically replicants) are slightly disturbing themselves. The androids seem odd, some even deranged. These strange behaviors are easily misplaced as nonhuman characteristic that are unique to replicants. However, a deeper view of their behavior might offer a very different conclusion. These entities can think, feel, and have been given an entire memory to call their own. They believe they are human just as much as you and I. They equally fear death, the only difference being their predetermined four-year life span. All of their behaviors, strange as they may be, are intrinsically human, and illustrate that same actions each of us would take facing similar circumstances.
I applaud Ridley Scott for taking a more adverse, thought provoking approach. Groundhog Day contains themes just as important as Blade Runner, but both movies portray these themes in different manners. Director Harold Ramis plays it safe, with his production of Groundhog Day. As a result he produces a clever film thanks to the help of Bill Murray, one that leaves its audience content, and nothing more. Scott however, presents very similar themes by much more invasive and disturbing means. Blade Runner leaves its audience with a set of ethical and moral dilemmas. It asks questions about our humanity and starts a conversation.
Sources:
The Blade Runner movie poster.
The film © 1982, 1991 The Blade Runner Partnership
Poster artwork © 1982 The Ladd Company
Source: http://www.impawards.com/1982/blade_runner.html
Blade Runner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Prod. Ridley Scott and Hampton Francher. By Hampton Francher and David Webb Peoples. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. Warner Bros., 1982. DVD.
Barsam, Richard Meran., and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print. Fourth Edition.
Groundhog Day. Dir. Harold Ramis. Perf. Bill Murray. Colombia Pictures Co., 1993. DVD.
Ripley, Noah R. "Groundhog Day; It's Pretty Ok." Review. Weblog post.Http://noahripley.weebly.com/. Weebly.com, 07 May 2014. Web. 26 May 2014.
I am aware that comparing these two films may seem like a stretch, but bear with me. As previously stated in my last blog, the mis-en-scene used in Groundhog Day was lost on me. The movie was clever enough but was very tame and relatable. Both the cinematography and content were entertaining but mild at best. In my mind, Blade Runner presented the themes of the film in a more provoking manner. This could probably be attributed to the futuristic setting, giving the filmmakers room to interpret and predict what might be come 2019, as the movie was shot in the early 1980’s. Not only does the setting challenge what we know to be reality, the characters (specifically replicants) are slightly disturbing themselves. The androids seem odd, some even deranged. These strange behaviors are easily misplaced as nonhuman characteristic that are unique to replicants. However, a deeper view of their behavior might offer a very different conclusion. These entities can think, feel, and have been given an entire memory to call their own. They believe they are human just as much as you and I. They equally fear death, the only difference being their predetermined four-year life span. All of their behaviors, strange as they may be, are intrinsically human, and illustrate that same actions each of us would take facing similar circumstances.
I applaud Ridley Scott for taking a more adverse, thought provoking approach. Groundhog Day contains themes just as important as Blade Runner, but both movies portray these themes in different manners. Director Harold Ramis plays it safe, with his production of Groundhog Day. As a result he produces a clever film thanks to the help of Bill Murray, one that leaves its audience content, and nothing more. Scott however, presents very similar themes by much more invasive and disturbing means. Blade Runner leaves its audience with a set of ethical and moral dilemmas. It asks questions about our humanity and starts a conversation.
Sources:
The Blade Runner movie poster.
The film © 1982, 1991 The Blade Runner Partnership
Poster artwork © 1982 The Ladd Company
Source: http://www.impawards.com/1982/blade_runner.html
Blade Runner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Prod. Ridley Scott and Hampton Francher. By Hampton Francher and David Webb Peoples. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. Warner Bros., 1982. DVD.
Barsam, Richard Meran., and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print. Fourth Edition.
Groundhog Day. Dir. Harold Ramis. Perf. Bill Murray. Colombia Pictures Co., 1993. DVD.
Ripley, Noah R. "Groundhog Day; It's Pretty Ok." Review. Weblog post.Http://noahripley.weebly.com/. Weebly.com, 07 May 2014. Web. 26 May 2014.