Denis Villeneuve delivers the biggest movie of the year with Dune, the beautiful beginning to a sci-fi saga that will aim to rival Star Wars.
★★★★★
The mammoth task of adapting a beloved fantasy book series to the big screen has a history of few jubilant successes, and many agonising failures. The scope and scale achieved in certain epic literature has often evaded Hollywood’s ambitious attempts to capture it over the years. Frank Herbert’s iconic science fiction novel Dune is one such story that has seen acclaimed filmmakers, Alejandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch among them, fail to emulate its grand and audacious story in a feature film.
Denis Villeneuve, the critically acclaimed Canadian director of modern sci-fi gems Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, is the latest to attempt to tackle Herbert’s complex masterwork. His film only covers the first half of the story, but judging by these first few rounds, Villeneuve is firmly in creative control of his cinematic craft while he simultaneously handles the source material that he loves so dearly. Dune is a stunning, arresting sci-fi epic that delivers on all of its conquering fronts.
Set in a futuristic feudal society, Dune follows the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), as he and his family, the noble House Atreides, are given stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis by the ruling emperor. Despite its hostile climate and sparse landscape, Arrakis is vitally important because it is the only source of ‘spice’ in the universe, a psychoactive drug contained within the sand dunes of Arrakis that is necessary for space navigation. The story sees Paul and his family travel to the planet, where they face the dangers of humongous sand worms, the sly tactics of the native Fremen people, and the villainous machinations of House Harkonnen.
It’s a story that thrusts you into a vast and unfamiliar world rich in detail and intrigue. Villeneuve masterfully manages to guide you through it with a combination of unobtrusive exposition and impressive visual storytelling. Dune does take its time worldbuilding, but with the world being so fascinating and with Villeneuve’s impressive control of the film’s pacing, its 100% worth it.
Paul’s character arc is the central focus, and Chalamet brings a stoic uncertainty to the role of the young Atreides heir. Paul’s confidence grows as the story progresses, and Chalamet hits all the necessary dramatic beats to create a likable protagonist that you truly root for. Likable is how you could describe the entire cast, as even the baddies are heartily enjoyable to hate.
It’s a story that thrusts you into a vast and unfamiliar world rich in detail and intrigue. Villeneuve masterfully manages to guide you through it with a combination of unobtrusive exposition and impressive visual storytelling.
The most interesting Dune character is perhaps Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Paul’s mother and concubine to Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), Paul’s father. A member of the mysterious and powerful Bene Gesserit sisterhood, Jessica is torn between her family and her commitments to the mystical sect to which she has always belonged. Much of Dune’s runtime sees Paul and Jessica together, and it’s refreshing to see a mother-son relationship thrust to the forefront of a story that you’d think would typically see a father-son dynamic at its core.
Getting away from the engrossing story, the wealth of compelling characters and their captivating relationships, it is within the visuals where Dune really thrives. Looking back at Villeneuve’s filmography, especially his other sci-fi offerings, the idea of how he wants his films to look and feel are always paramount to his vision. Dune looks and feels massive. The special effects capture the otherworldly nature of certain story elements and never take you out of the experience, and the camera captures everything in a clear and creative manner. The production design and costuming are just superb. Everything about Dune’s world feels fresh and exciting, yet grounded and believable within its science fiction framework.
The culmination of it all is an absorbing and dramatic journey that leaves you wanting so much more. The only downside of Dune is its frustrating ending, as this foundation for the eventual three-or-more film franchise is clearly the first part of an incomplete story. However, that’s the sign that Dune has accomplished its mission. Even after two and a half hours in its world, the mere sight of the credits still manages to exasperate. Villeneuve is victorious with his adaptation and has set up an even bigger and more thrilling sequel. Let’s hope it can live up to its excellent predecessor.
The Verdict
Denis Villeneuve fully sheds his arthouse roots to deliver a sci-fi blockbuster for the ages. Dune immerses you in an exciting and original cinematic world that can stand up proud amongst its contemporaries, be that a galaxy far, far away or Peter Jackson’s middle-earth. It’s a fantastic first chapter in Paul Atreides’ story that’ll be sure to capture imaginations around the world.
Words by Cameron Blackshaw
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