A look at: Blade Runner 2049's Visual Direction

Blade Runner 2049
directed by Denis Villeneuve

Blade Runner has been widely appreciated for its presentation - recently being nominated for 5 Academy Awards, 3 of which specifically referring to the films visual design.

The genre of the films visual direction is usually referred to as 'cyberpunk' - a term to describe an area of science fiction where 'low-tech' or basic, familiar ways of life and technology are contrasted by exotic technology and vast structural or architectural developments. The film utilises this contrast to represent huge devisions in wealth and class, creating alternative worlds for the wealthy and the downtrodden - in an overtly dystopian future. This is common throughout the genre and a frequent trait of the science fiction narrative. But Blade Runner 2049 does this in a way that makes the world feel lived in - and a recognisable parallel or mirror to our own - in an execution that i believe is an improvement on its predecessor and an example for the science fiction genre as a whole.

Vehicles in the film feel inherently familiar whilst being overtly high-tech, fully equipped with the ability to fly and hover without any visible jets or engines. Yet the cars retain a clunky, recognisable aura - referable to your standard Peugeot 206 with a hint of Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor. Wear and tear visible throughout 2049's Los Angelis's equipment and buildings help to enforce this familiarity and sense of realism but the direction isn't overly reliant on this to ground the designs in reality - the sense is instead deeply woven into the design philosophy, consistent in the film as a whole.

Realistic colour grading helps to contrast the high-technology and further enforce the tactility of the film. Not only in post production is this grounded colour aesthetic created - the set design uses tactile, familiar materials and colours - referable to that seen in medical environments for instance. In terms of cinematography the film is a masterpiece - and this helps to perpetuate the realistic 'believable feel' of the film. Low angle and low light intensity shots are frequent helping the viewers perspective to be immersed within the world opposed to taking a disconnected, spectators perspective.

Blade Runner 2049's preference towards practical set dressing heavily compliments its overall direction - avoiding the sterility and 'over-rendered' nature often encouraged by the heavy use of computer graphics.