Full disclosure: I am a Dune neophyte. However, I resolved before diving into Denis Villeneuve’s newest release, Dune: Part Two, to finally remedy that. This week, I’ve been basking in Dune through all its cinematic forms. 1984, 2021… there’s so much to see and even more to try and understand. Dune: Part Two hits theaters this week, facing massive expectations. Critics are calling it one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Does the film live up to the cosmic hype? Or are there “spicy” takes in its future?
Dune: Part Two jumps back into the continuing story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he lands on Arrakis. He resolves to settle in with the local population, rain vengeance down on those who wronged his family… and then there’s that whole thing about being the “Chosen One.” The film features a super-sized, all-star cast, including Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Dave Bautista. Denis Villeneuve directs Dune: Part Two from a script he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts. The film comes from Frank Herbert‘s novel.
After what can only be described as a spicy Dune week, kids, yours truly was prepared to come in with some skepticism. How can anything live up to the personality and Lynchian wackiness of Dune 1984? Well, it turns out…. Denis Villeneuve can.
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Sometimes, we have to admit when we’re wrong. The proverbial hat must be eaten. The hype is, in fact, real, and at this point, Denis Villeneuve is just showing off. This film is a giant, Hans Zimmer-scored cinematic work of art. The creative team does not put a foot wrong in telling this super-sized and ambitious story. And even more impressive, they not only push but also shove the creative standard forward. Few franchises show the flawless visual mastery on display here. Villeneuve depicts a world that feels real. The graphics and the effects never falter. The characters move freely through the climate, never limited by technology. This world is vivid, beautiful and fully realized in a way we don’t often see.
Meanwhile, the movie pulls together a packed cast of not only seasoned veterans but also some of the industry’s best young talent. There isn’t a bad performance in the bunch. Of course, we’d be shirking our responsibilities if we didn’t give special mention to Timothée Chalamet as Paul. The young actor has been lighting up the screen since his mainstream debut in 2017’s Call Me By Your Name. This time out, however, he’s broken fully from the juvenile roles that have previously been his bread and butter.
Chalamet is fully immersed in Paul’s dynamic and complicated intricacies. There’s a heartbreaking emotion here and a power and authority he hasn’t often worked with in previous roles. At the same time, actor and director are fully united in the exploration of Paul’s ambiguity. This is seen most strikingly in the third act. One particular wordless scene shows this in terrifying clarity as Chalamet not only dominates the frame but shows everything he can do with a single look. So much is said without leaning on a single line of dialogue.
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This silent power is, in truth, a commonality in Dune: Part Two. As a filmmaker, Villeneuve is very much a practitioner of “show, don’t tell.” This script is scant and leans heavily into these vivid worlds or equally striking performances to convey its message. In the wrong hands, this dense, quiet beast of a movie could prove an insurmountable hurdle. The film is pushing two hours and 40 minutes, after all. Yet, while this movie can’t be called “a breeze,” it never feels long, and it never drags. Dune: Part Two is all-consuming.
This is one of those works where seeing this on as big a screen as possible is necessary. Dune: Part Two loudly proclaims this in its marketing. Unfortunately, they’re right. This is a movie made for an IMAX screen. It’s a big, brash IMAX film. When you factor in the Hans Zimmer score? Kids, I could feel my bones vibrating. That’s power.
When all is said and done, this can only be described as an unapologetic rave. This Dune neophyte came into Dune: Part Two and was thrown for a loop in the best possible way. Director Denis Villeneuve jumps into what could easily be a by-the-books franchise sequel and creates a cinematic feast for the senses. Dune fans, sci-fi fans and cinephiles alike should certainly have this one on their lists.
Dune: Part Two is now playing in theaters around the country.
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