The long awaited adaptation of the seminal sci-fi novel Dune has finally arrived on the big screen after many delays and setbacks. This highly anticipated release is not the first time the space epic has been adapted for the screen. Acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch did his take on the book in 1984 which, the less said about the better. There have also been series, comics and other material based on author Frank Herbert’s work but they have all struggled to fully grasp the scope and scale of the book.
My experience with the source material and the other works based on it is well, nothing. I had never seen any of the films/series and never read the book, but I was sold on this adaptation after its director was announced. Denis Villeneuve has made some of the most stunning, thought–provoking cinema of the past decade, from modern classics like Sicario and Prisoners to sci-fi spectacle in Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. It’s safe to say he’s got a good track record although, his films have never been smash hits at the box-office.
Dune tells the story of Paul (Timothee Chalamet), a royal prince of house Atreides born to his father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) and his mystical wife Lady Jessica (Rebbeca Ferguson) who is raising Paul as part of her mysterious and powerful order the Bene Gesserit. Paul’s family are suddenly given ownership to the most important planet in the galaxy, Arrakis. Home of vast desserts of a substance known as Spice which is pivotal to the running and order of the galaxy. However the planets former rulers, the house Harkonen, are furious at the changing of the guard and seek to plot against house Atreides.
That is the plot in its simplest form which, to Villeneuve’s credit, is incredibly difficult to condense as this story seems epic in every sense of the word, with this film only telling part one of this huge story. And it shows, with the film ending on a moment that doesn’t at all feel like the end, almost teasing you in the way it ends so abruptly and without warning.
With Dune, Villeneuve may have finally found the perfect middle ground between art-house cinema and large scale blockbuster. Dune really is a spectacle to behold on the big screen. Nearly every frame here is something to marvel at, from an alien looking spacecraft rising from the ocean to a huge sandworm devouring a spice harvester, the scope and scale of this film is on another level, some of the best digital effects I’ve ever seen. It makes these alien worlds feel so authentic and real. I was initially worried that the story would be too big and complex to fully grasp but this film does a great job of immersing you into this world through compelling world building. That does mean a lot of exposition, especially at the beginning, but for a film as big and dense as this, I think it’s warranted.
The cast here is also exceptional. Some of Hollywoods biggest stars are in Dune, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem just to name a few. They’re also joined by some fresher-faced stars in Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet. Everyone is on their A game and is fully committed to this world that Villeneuve has crafted. While some have bigger parts than others (some are literally in the film for less than 10 minutes!) you can tell everyone is committed to their roles.
The majority of the film is spent with Chalamet as Paul and Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica who are defienlty worthy of praise. Chalamet’s Paul can be very one note and laid back in his performance but as the film goes on he kind of grows on you and plays the part of Paul well, often capturing the more subtle nuances like a walk or a look perfectly. Ferguson is also great as Jessica his protective and powerful mother who must guide him too his destiny, who really shows a range of emotion throughout. Also shout out to Stellan Skarsgaard as the ruthless Baron Harkonen, while he is not in it nearly enough, when he is he is very imposing. Mostly down to the brilliant make up and his intimidating tone. He reminded me of Marlon Brando’s Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now but as a fat, threatening space Baron if that makes any sense?
Lastly I’d like to say the score is brilliant, Hans Zimmer pulls out all the stops to create a score that sounds truly otherworldly and really adds to the immersion of this world, except for maybe that part where there were bagpipes, as if they would still be used in the year 10’091.
Overall, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is a real exhibition for the big screen, it feels like the beginning of an epic, vast, intriguing story of destiny, betrayal, power and war, a more mature Star Wars. Dune hooks you from minute one with dazzling imagery and an interesting narrative. While not everything and everyone is fleshed out and explored to its potential, this will hopefully be rectified with subsequent sequels. Definitely worth a watch on the biggest screen possible.
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