by Jake Bourgeois, Contributing Writer
Denis Villeneuve’s remake of the 1984 cult classic Dune, based on the beloved novel of the same name, is one of the most hotly anticipated releases left on the 2021 cinematic calendar. Releasing both in theaters and (much to the director’s dismay) on HBO Max, trailers promised a breathtaking cinematic event that must be seen on the big screen. But does it deliver?
In short, yes.
My only previous knowledge of Dune as an intellectual property were the brief glimpses of the original film that I’d catch on occasion while over at a childhood friend’s (it happened to be one of his dad’s favorites). However, knowing how beloved the world was and being a reader who’s enjoyed his fair share of sci-fi or fantasy words, I was intrigued to see how quickly I was able to orient myself to this new universe. Thankfully, it happens pretty quickly. While I’ve already forgotten most of the names of the planets that flash across the screen, more importantly, this film gave me an understanding of the politics at play, the stakes, and a good sense of how the different players have set themselves up. In a nutshell, we follow young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as his family is given control of the spice trade, the lucrative key to space travel, earning them powerful enemies. Paul, himself the son of a powerful house leader and mystic mother, finds himself trying to square who he is and what it could mean for his destiny.
That setup is key, since this is a part one — something I don’t know has been clear in the marketing, but is made crystal clear in the opening credits. So, getting us set up in the world with a sense and connection to our main characters and the world as a whole is paramount. Though if you’ve forgotten that “this is just the beginning,” the film will hammer that point home quite bluntly right before the credits roll. I don’t mean for that to sound pejorative. With such a detailed world established, and a story that’s interestingly told, I found myself invested throughout a hefty runtime.
Chalamet is our lead and does a good job here, particularly saddled with the familiar trope of embodying a “chosen one” character. There are specific moments, like the box scene or scenes where his character is beset by visions, where his quality can really shine. The rest of the cast does a great job, too. Particularly I found the performances of Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård, Jason Momoa, and Josh Brolin to be some of my favorites among the rest of the cast. The relationship between Chalamet and Momoa was a particular highlight. Zendaya, though featured heavily in marketing, doesn’t have much to do in part film, but should have an integral role in the sequel. Only one performance doesn’t really work for me and that is Dave Bautista’s. It was just a bit off, but he has relatively little screen time.
Despite the loaded cast, I think the true star of the show is the technical aspects of the film. As with most of Villeneuve’s films, Dune is gorgeous. The cinematography is sublime, so props to director of photography Greig Fraser (Rogue One and Zero Dark Thirty). The visual effects are breathtakingly done. The sand worms look fantastic, as does Skarsgård’s Baron, a mix of great makeup and effects. Skarsgård is nearly unrecognizable.
I was also a huge fan of Hans Zimmer’s score. He must love working with Villeneuve. Their last two collaborations (including Blade Runner 2049) are where I think Zimmer’s been at his best lately. The fight and battle scenes are shot pretty well, both when they’re brought up and scale and intimate. Given some of the technology fighters use, my one quibble was it made some of the fights feel a little stilted. However, if some of the previews of what we can expect in the second part are anything to go off, the action will be even better in part two.
Overall, I found it a compelling story told with spectacular visuals that accomplished the mission it set out to achieve: it got me invested and excited for what’s coming next. It also (almost) made me want a desert mouse as a pet, though I’m less sure about what to do with that particular piece of information.
I suspect, now having an understanding of the world and its players, the film will only grow in my estimation on future watches, which I can even boot up from my own home. Just don’t tell Villeneuve…
Grade: A-
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