Movie Review: Dune
SPOILER ALERT: This one is currently in theaters and on HBO Max, so I’m going to stay away from overt spoilers. While I think this is certainly a film that rewards theater viewing due to its massive scope and size, I’m not going to necessarily recommend you go to the theater. Due to the ongoing pandemic, I’ll leave that choice up to you. I saw it in a theater and was pleased with the safety precautions taken at my local cinema. Whatever your decision on that front, I do encourage you to watch the film prior to reading this review. Then, you can come back and join the discussion!
The lights went down and the screen opened up before me. Faces around me lit only by reflection. I had not been in a movie theater since March 2020, and while my ability to see a movie in a theater is very far down on the list of difficulties faced over the last year, I had greatly missed that experience.
I was there with a group of friends from college to see Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, the new film based on the Frank Herbert novel. This movie is epic. It is massive. It’s a movie made for the cinema. Denis Villeneuve has been building to this throughout his career. While I’m not sure it’s quite his career best, it is very close.
I should make clear that I did not read the Frank Herbert novel prior to seeing the film. Most of my friends had read the book when we gathered at the theater, but I was a blank slate. It amazes me that anyone can even wrap their head around a story of this magnitude. Yet, Villeneuve did just that.
This is the story of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), the son of the ruler of the vaunted House Atreides - Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac). Paul clearly has gifts and seems destined for greatness, but he is reluctant at first. His father’s world is being thrust upon him just as another world is being thrust upon his father.
That is because the emperor has just decreed that House Atreides will take over the planet Arrakis from the vicious House Harkonnen. Arrakis is a desert planet with an unforgivingly harsh climate filled with dangers large and small. Despite this, it is coveted for the spice that can be harvested from its surface. This spice powers intergalactic travel and makes it the most valuable commodity in the universe. House Harkonnen had built up untold wealth from it. But the emperor’s decree meant that House Atreides would now take over spice harvesting operations.
Arrakis is also home to the Fremen - the planet’s native population. They had been brutalized by House Harkonnen and are wary of any outsiders. They also understand how to live in the harsh climate of Arrakis, including how to avoid the planet’s famous sandworms. Early in the film, Paul begins having dreams where he always sees the same Fremen woman (Zendaya). He is apprehensive about taking over as leader of House Atreides, but he is fascinated with Arrakis. He wants to see his future through on this planet and among its people.
This is one of the more important setups that the film does early on. As big as this film is - and it is massive - it is the interior story of Paul’s potential and his connection to the Fremen that gives the movie its backbone. As a “Part I” film, Dune could easily have fallen prey to the fatal flaw of Avengers: Infinity War by only setting up its coming sequel without having enough of a storyline all its own. But Paul’s story helps the film elide this and sets it up for success.
That success would not be realized without the performance of Chalamet. Yes, he had been in a blockbuster science-fiction film before (Interstellar), but he was a supporting actor in that film. Here he is the unquestioned lead. As acclaimed as Chalamet has been to this point in his career, this role represents a new challenge for him. He passed it with flying colors. He communicates the internal turmoil of the character while also stepping into the realization of his potential as the film goes on.
But enough about internal struggles and emotional storylines. Let’s talk about explosions.
In all seriousness, the film’s epic scale is undoubtedly what will draw many to it. And that is for good reason. Villeneuve and cinematographer Greig Fraser create incredible visuals and striking vistas. The color palette is far more muted than Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 for which Roger Deakins won a cinematography Oscar. But I would not be surprised to see Fraser’s work get similar accolades. The enormity of this film is almost too much to comprehend. And yet the creative team was able to rein in that scale in support of the film’s narrative.
One of my favorite pieces of that creative vision was the design of the film’s various spacecraft. The Star Wars films obviously dominate the “sci-fi in space” arena, but Dune forges new territory in that regard. That is especially true of the bug-like transports on Arrakis.
The other major element is the film’s music from legendary composer, Hans Zimmer. Zimmer also collaborated with Villeneuve on Blade Runner 2049 (along with fellow composer Benjamin Wallfisch). Here they join once more to create an aural experience like few others in my memory. Zimmer’s famous baaaauuuummm noises are taken to a new level.
Villeneuve has cemented himself as one of the greatest directors working today. This film will only add to that legacy, and I’m so glad I was able to see it on the big screen. While the theatrical experience may be threatened by streaming sources, epic films like this one will always demand the experience of sitting in a dark room joined by your friends with the biggest screen possible before you. The music and visuals simply can’t be replicated at home or on your phone screen.
Due to its epic scope, the film is a long one - over two and a half hours in runtime. And, at times, the barrage of large visuals and booming music can make you feel that runtime a bit. But, I think that effect is softened a bit by the sheer number of incredible actors and actresses that populate the story. There are always new faces and storylines to consider. Zendaya, Javier Bardem (as Fremen leader, Stilgar); Stellan Skarsgard (as House Harkonnen leader, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen); and Rebecca Ferguson (as Lady Jessica Altreides) are especially good in supporting roles.
I’m looking forward to seeing this one again, as there are surely more things to pick up on from repeat viewings. However, I really enjoyed it on first watch, and I did not feel like I was lost in the story even though I hadn’t read the book. I highly recommend this one!
NOTE ON CONTENT: This film is rated PG-13, mostly for violence. There are multiple battle scenes with violent imagery and some disturbing or frightening situations. There is no sexual content to speak of and no profanity. This one should be okay for all except the youngest of viewers.