If You Love ‘Blade Runner,’ This Documentary About the Writer of Ridley Scott’s Sci-Fi Classic Is Just as Fascinating

Though it’s a classic now, Blade Runner has a fascinating history behind it. From meddling studio executives, to a difficult production and its infamous box office performance, it’s incredible that the film became the classic it is today. However, the movie’s epic visuals and interesting backstories are nothing compared to the life of one of its writers, Hampton Fancher. As recounted by the 2017 documentary, Escapes, Fancher’s life and career have been filled with incredible feats, relationships, and trials along the way. Watching the documentary is not only an interesting study of his creative efforts, but also of the man himself.

‘Escapes’ Feels More Like an Adventure Than a Documentary

Documentaries have often given us a glimpse into the minds of great filmmakers and some of our favorite movies themselves. Escapes, however, is just as exciting as the movies themselves. Following Fancher’s life, the documentary itself doesn’t necessarily follow a chronological narrative, opting instead to tell Fancher’s story through the lens of creativity and excitement. While this certainly helps to separate it from another run-of-the-mill documentary, the events it covers are just so fascinating.

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“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.”

We learn through the piece that Fancher doesn’t necessarily set out to become a great screenwriter. He was rather adventurous in his pursuits, and we get to see how he tried his hand on many career paths. At one point, he wanted to be an actor before pivoting in an unexpected way to flamenco dancer. As if that wasn’t an interesting and jarring enough change, he became a wanderer at one point, as well as a university professor. Most of us only dream of possessing the diverse skills that Fancher shows throughout the doc, let alone the courage to pursue them. Indeed, his excursion feels epic in a modern way. Considering where he eventually ends up, it’s almost like watching him go on his own hero’s journey. Beyond his career endeavors, the documentary reveals fascinating relationships, such as his romantic life with esteemed actress Barbara Hershey. There are so many tantalizing details about the writer’s life told in such a vivid way that it’s truly a movie experience in and of itself. What really sets the documentary apart, though, is its focus on Fancher’s legacy, rather than only the works he created.

Most documentaries that focus on film personalities are ultimately focused on the creator’s work. And, while Fancher has an impressive resume outside of Blade Runner, including Blade Runner 2049, it’s so refreshing to see the film focus on Fancher’s life as a whole rather than his contributions to the classic. As we mentioned, Fancher had an amazing life, and it’s wonderful to see it documented for all of its worth. In fact, as opposed to the aforementioned typical practice, Escapes uses clips and pieces of his films to create a more surreal way of telling his story, as opposed to the other way around. The practice certainly helps draw us in as viewers with familiarity, but the more we learn about Fancher, the more his works help us understand him as a person even more. It’s such a tantalizing way to tap into the mind of such a creative person and is the perfect segue for the picture’s deeper thesis. It isn’t just a love letter to Fancher’s creativity, nor is it a surprising exploration of his unexpected ventures. Rather, it’s a celebration of what it means to be a creative and adventurous person. Like many great documentaries within the same genre, the film not only explores these endeavors but also inspires those with big dreams and artistic spirit. Fancher is certainly a fantastic embodiment of this idea, and it’s hard not to be inspired while taking in his journey.

Blade Runner’s legacy is certainly one that deserves praise. From its tumultuous history to becoming a sci-fi classic, it is a picture that has defied the odds. However, it would be nothing without the creative mind behind the screenplay, Hampton Fancher. 2017’s documentary, Escapes, not only offers a glimpse into his exciting life, serves as a wonderful inspiration for those with their own big dreams. While we absolutely can’t discredit the work he’s done for the screen, the documentary paints such a vivid picture of the writer’s life that it’s hard not to find its truths even more gripping than the fictional worlds he created.