I have been enjoying the BFI Modern Classic series-it is very similar to the Continuum series of short book length essays on seminal films instead of albums. The latest edition was on Ridley Scott's Blade Runner by Scott Bukatman, which I think is one of my favorite films. I am drawn to the film by the visual world you escape to when watching the film. It also appeals to my appreciations for gumshoe detective stories and film noir. In fact a lot of the book discusses the look and atmosphere of the film and it's effect rather than the nuts and bolts of the making of the film, although there is some about that as well. But I think the underlying story of the film success it's cult following-once the Director's Cut was released it became a hit. I remember seeing it in 1990 while at college and reading all the press that suggested it was the superior version sans the heavy handed narration and I agree that the ambient noise adds to the overall atmospheree of the city at night. There are discussion as Phillip K. DIck's influence and cyberpunk and perhaps a little too much academic posturing with mentions of people like Barthes, Foucalt, and Zizek. However, overall I think it is a good discussion of the merits and influence of one of the 80s finest films.
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