The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

The British Film Institute held a public poll as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, asking film lovers to select movies (from a list nominated by 75 individuals such as actors, directors and critics) that they would choose to preserve and show to future generations and why (as opposed to the more normal vote for your favourite movie type polls). One of the seminal science fiction films of the 20th century topped the poll – Blade Runner. It seems quite an appropriate choice to me – despite not being a huge commercial hit at the time, the film’s reputation (and audience) has grown hugely over the quarter of a century (something it shares with other acknowledged classics), its visual influence (especially the fabulous futuristic cityscape) is arguably now on a par with Lang’s Metropolis, director Ridley Scott has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed of modern directors (and still be commercially successful with it, a rare combination) and, of course, it is based on the writings of one of the 20th century’s great authors, Philip K Dick, whose twisted, paranoid, authority-distrusting tales are still held in high regard by readers and critics alike decades after his death (shortly before the film came out, although apparently he did see a rough cut of it before he passed on) and his work remains, like the work of Kafka, essential reading today and, I have no doubt, for many decades to follow.

For those interested the other films in the top five of the poll included Stalker, Quadrophenia, Lawrence of Arabia and The Godfather. Another fantastical  genre entry sneaked into the next five, with the utterly gorgeous A Matter of Life and Death at the number seven position (I’m rather pleased to see that and Blade Runner in there as both films are in my personal all-time top twenty favourite films).  As part of the project the BFI will be hosting events with screenings of the top three films, kicking off this weekend at the BFI Southbank with a screening of Quadrophenia, introduced by actor Jaime Winston (the first person to nominate the movie) and with guests director Franc Roddam and actor Phil Daniels. On Saturday 21st of March there will be an entire day of programmes to celebrate the number one choice, Blade Runner, with screenings, book signings and guests. For more details check the BFI site.