2036: Nexus Dawn

2036: Nexus Dawn is part of a set of Blade Runner 2049 shorts that bridge the gap between original Blade Runner and its belated sequel.

Directed by Luke Scott, this short follows Jared Leto's character, Niander Wallace who wants the law prohibiting replicants to be repealed. Wallace has created a new series of advanced replicants, the Nexus 9 which are programmed not to harm humans. He rather forcefully convenes a demonstration but all it really shows that Wallace is barking mad.

In "2036: Nexus Dawn", Wallace (Jared Leto) demonstrates a new kind of replicant, who will absolutely obey the orders from human and never run. But the lawmaker (Benedict Wong) does not seem to believe in him. The short should show how the lawmaker changes his attitude and maybe include a possible discussion among the magistrates.

In 2036: Nexus Dawn (and Nexus, for those who may recall, is a key word in the Blade Runner universe for those darn replicant), somehow Jared Leto has a better Joker scene in a Blade Runner short film prequel than he did throughout his entire actual performance as the Joker. This is not to say it is so much in the performance as it is in the writing, that sense of unpredictable menace which his character brings to the others he is in front of as they sort of discuss "prohibition" against creating replicants coming to a close. Or, of course, not, as it turns out to be here.

I enjoyed this short, though mostly for Leto - who, again, I now am excited to see what he does in the full 2049 film - and for the cinematography. It's a tricky thing to come to this as it is meant (I guess like how there were other prequel-appendix shorts to Alien Covenant) to provide some other context before we see 2049. But on the other hand, where is the context for *who these* characters are? I can pick up enough parts from the trailer and this to get who Leto is playing. Everyone else, however, make it more uncertain and it had the feel of a fan film of some kind. I also wasn't a fan of the editing, how Scott cuts together his beautiful digital cinematography and lit shots together, a little jumbled. All this said I liked the dark and menacing tone, I liked the whole purpose of where it leads to (the "man" next to Leto in the scene and what he does), and I'm further intrigued to check out more shorts.

One of three short films serve as prequels to Blade Runner 2049.

This short has so many names; 2036: Clone Era, 2036: Chain Dawn, 2036: Copy of the Times and Blade Runner 2036. They used this many titles in Chinese and Taiwanese territories to attract audiences to get a taste of Blade Runner 2049.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short. I saw the movie, and now, after watching the short, I recall the great, great, great performance of Leto in the film. Few actors catch my attention the way he does. Bravo! to him and I hope so see him play at his best in every movie he encounters to play in.