Film Review: Denis Villeneuve Broke the Curse of Dune
Dune is infamous for being unfilmable, unadaptable. Many have tried to penetrate the complexities of the dense novel, but no one has quite been able to do it justice on the big screen. But when I heard that director Denis Villeneuve was behind the seemingly impossible task, the one who successfully completed the previously seemingly impossible Blade Runner 2049, it restored some of my confidence. I still moved with cautious optimism, after all, it is Dune. Even after reading the novel, it was hard for me to imagine translating the novel to the screen and making it accessible to general audiences.
For those of you who are completely unfamiliar, Dune follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), noble-born youth with unique gifts, including the ability to see into the future. His father, Duke Leto (played by Oscar Isaac), is seemingly sent a gift of Arrakis by the emperor, which has the most valuable resource in the universe. However, this gift is actually a trap as he is gaining popularity among the other Great Houses. The Emperor plans to have the evil Harkonnons kill him there. Paul’s mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) Leto’s concubine, has the special ability to control her emotions, muscles, and even people with her voice. Paul’s powerful prescience has been the result of the long planned breeding program that Jessica and other women have been part of for generations They hope he is the long prophesied kwisatz hadarach, or The One. If that seems like a lot or it is complicated, it’s because it is.
Walking into the theater to see the much anticipated sci-fi epic, however, I found myself swept away. People have already made numerous Star Wars and Lord of the Ring comparisons, so I will spare you. But it is just as every bit massive, enthralling, gorgeous, and intriguing. By now Villeneuve is known for his stunning visual style, but Greig Fraser really shines here. There were several moments when I was left completely breathless or awestruck, hand over my mouth, thinking this is what movies are made for. With the gargantuan set pieces, it is hard not to become enveloped in the universe, even if you know nothing of the story. This most certainly is one of those rare movies, where when you walk out of it, you have just had an experience. Just like Villeneuve’s previous work before, I felt transported, as if I was actually on Arrakis. As a massive book fan, I spent a majority of the runtime with a massive smile on my face, as a majority of the scenes that I imagined in my mind came to life on screen. I felt like I could actually feel the burning heat of the sun and the sand of Arrakis or the cool air of Caladan. Rebecca Ferguson said in an interview that while filming in the desert “it’s basically mother nature engulfing you and going, you mean nothing”. I felt that exact expanse and intimidation of the landscape.
The attention to detail throughout this movie is absolutely incredible and stunning, from the intricate murals on the walls, to the Atreides sign language, to some of the most gorgeous and elaborate costume designs I have seen. Villeneuve has long said that this was his dream project since he was a child, and you can feel the passion and thoughtfulness through every single frame.
This movie of course is a feast for the eyes, and has probably been the best movie I have laid eyes on in some time, but I also have to mention the legendary Hans Zimmer who also carries this movie. Arguably, this score is the best of his yet. His operatic and overwhelming score had my jaw on the floor and my heart pounding. Zimmer had long said he wanted to create a score that had sounded like something “not of our world”, and boy did he succeed in flying colors. Some parts I had absolute goosebumps and chilled me to the bone and others had me gasping in my seat while it vibrated through my chest.
Acting-wise, everyone does their best with what they have, I believe, which I will get into. Rebecca Ferguson perfectly encapsulates the torn and concerned mother and wife that we see in the book. By far the best performance. Jason Momoa was also surprisingly charming and very badass as Duncan Idaho. I would go as far to say this was his best performance yet.
I threw a ton of praise at this movie but that does not mean I do not have quibbles, of course. For new fans, this may prove to be hard to watch. Just like the book, there is a lot of lore and exposition in the beginning. This is about the part where people quit the book. I can see many general audience members tuning out at the mention of words such as kwisatz haderach or bene gesserit. Because this script is mostly world-building, we are also left with a pretty weak script. As a fan of the book, this movie did not have to work very hard to win my affections for the characters, but I believe new fans will want more time and development. There are many scenes and plot lines from the book that have been noticeably cut which may or may not have helped the character development. However, we have to keep in mind that this is just a two and half hour movie and it is introducing probably the most dense and complex sci-fi world in history. Villeneuve does the best job he possibly can to introduce people to this universe. Will newcomers have the patience to stick with it? I don’t know. Just like I promise all new fans to the book, if you are patient and bear with it, you will be heavily rewarded.
Dune will be released in theaters and HBO Max on Thursday October 21st, 2021.