Denis Villeneuve has been dancing around the label of a cinema great for a while. His portfolio up to this point has consisted of some absolute diamonds, yet he has somewhat struggled to create a film that has pure cultural significance. He came close with Sicario and Blade Runner 2049- but they still lacked the same triumph that films like Pulp Fiction or the Wolf of Wall Street have. I believe that this all changes with Dune.
To kick things off, the narrative of Dune is simply phenomenal. The sci-fi thriller is so enticing that you are virtually frozen to your seat. Each scene perfectly flows into one another, with the dialogue acting as a smooth lullaby as you watch. The plot combines the feuds of Game of Thrones, with the outer-space feel of Star Wars- in a dynamic that feels so fresh and interesting. Moreover, the lack of wider lore touched in the film plays into its own hands, as it is not overcomplicated and fairly clean to follow in a movie backdrop. Furthermore, the interesting themes surrounding imperialism and religion provide real-world analysis- the looting of the spice seemed very familiar to European purging of Africa and Asia- suggesting humanity always falls back to their conquering nature.
Normally, I am quite critical of actors, but the acting here is pretty good. Although there are not too many high-pressure scenes where the acting can shine, it keeps well with the film. In particular, Rebecca Ferguson’s performance stood out as Lady Jessica- her portrayal of mental torture, when Paul is being tested, was sensational. To be critical, the acting probably brings on my biggest problem with the film- the lack of Zendaya’s screen time- however, this was in line with the plot and there were hints toward bigger involvement in the sequel.
However, the real highlight of the film is simply the visuals and the sound. The worm snakes are completely mesmerising, the scenic establishing shots are snapshots from a dream, and the colour pallet is so finely tuned that your eyes melt with each shot. Paul hiding from the hunter-seeker, the flagship rising from the sea, and the battle at Arrakis are particularly stunning. Moreover, the high-tension Hans Zimmer soundtrack provides real substance to each scene, playing as the perfect background alongside the dialogue.
Overall, I think Dune has the real potential to become a 21st century great, but it depends on the quality of the sequel. It is probably the best film I have seen this year, and for that reason, I couldn’t recommend it enough. Nine/Ten.
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