FILM REVIEW: DUNE: PART ONE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE FILM

TITLE: Dune: Part One

RELEASE DATE: 03 Sep 2021

WATCH DATE: 06 Oct 2021, 29 Feb 2024, 10 Mar 2024, 11 Mar 2024

TYPE: live-action feature film

ACCESS: movie theatre, now streaming on Hulu

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THE PEOPLE

DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve

PRODUCER: Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Cale Boyter, Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve, Jessica Derhammer, Chris Carreras, Vasco Xu

WRITER: Eric Roth, Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Greig Fraser

ACTORS: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, David Dastmalchian, Babs Olusanmokun

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THE STORY

RUNTIME: 2h 35m

STORYLINE: a special young man begins to discover his unique destiny as he is thrust into a galactic, political conflict when his family is sent to govern a desert planet and betrayed

GENRE/THEMES: sci-fi, action, political drama, space/interplanetary drama

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THE CRITIQUE

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

This film is... an unforgettable experience.

Before even the intro with the film company logos, a deep, guttural voice echoes, "DREAMS ARE MESSAGES FROM THE DEEP". From 0:01 of Dune, you understand that this is not a normal movie. You are about to see something you've never seen before.

Dune is so memorable and eye-catching because it's based on Frank Herbert’s book that established these visuals and ideas in the 60s, so we've never seen something like this in our generation. It feels original quality. Dune is an epic saga of a young man forging a new path that is born out of tragedy, as he discovers and determines his identity. He is thrown into the political conflict between two great houses - his own, the Atriedes, and their enemies, the Harkonnens - when his family is sent to govern the desert planet of Arrakis. There, Paul is also faced with messianic prophecies that the native people have been living for.

My impression of Frank Herbert's book is that it is extremely dense and difficult to read. Given that, Villanueve's adapted screenplay is a masterpiece. While it may take a second or third time watching to catch all of the details - which is part of cinematic magic - there is no gray area left for confusion. The audience follows the storyline every step of the way. The layers of influence - political, religious, personal - all coexist without overwhelming the storyline as a whole.

The cinematography of Dune is extraordinary. You could watch this film on mute and still have an incredible experience. THAT makes an amazing film. Every setting is captured in both epic grandness and striking detail. New landscapes and whole planets fill the IMAX screen, but we also don't miss the little things - the leathery Steal Suits, the Bene Gesserit veils and beads, the grains of sand and spice, the fur of the desert mouse. Not a shot is wasted in creating and establishing the sights and textures of the world of Dune. There are so many shots that demand to be iconic stills - the oily, bubbly fluid of the Baron's healing chamber; the enormous sandworm looming over the dwarfed form of Paul Atriedes; the statue of the matador and the bull. These lingering shots and slow-motion sequences establish a style for the film series, as well as an engaging pace for the plot.

Villanueve and Greig Fraser employ the classic elements of design in the cinematography, most notably the element of scale. Epic structures and sweeping landscapes are paired with intimate close-ups and fine details. The Bene Gesserit ship is tiny compared to the monstrous space portal orbiting the planet, but as it lands you see how small the people are in comparison, which makes the space portal even bigger. This is done throughout the film - the little desert mouse and the giant sandworm; the grains of spice floating in the air and the fleet of Harkonnen ships. The use of these extremes in size and scale is a mind trip.

I can barely blink when I watch Dune.

The vision sequences are inexplicably crafted. They feel like real dreams, sights that don’t quite makes sense all tosses together. Zendaya has essentially only those minutes of screen time - and she makes EVERY second count. Her physical acting is alluring - the look in her eyes, the curve of her lips, the movement of her body. Even with a lack of lines and screentime, she does not disappoint.

Timothy Chalamet was born to portray Paul. An excellent casting choice. He doesn't have a 'hero' physicality, and that keeps the attention on the mental games at play between all the characters. This is also not quite a hero story. There are many layers to Paul Atriedes, and Chalamet brings incredible depth to the character. From his portrayal, you can see that there is so much more under the surface that we haven't even seen yet.

Rebecca Ferguson brings powerful energy to the screen, as she always does. Her chemistry with Chalamet and the rest of the cast carries the entire story. Her character's conflict is palpable, and keeps us riveted to her every scene.

It could be line delivery and enunciation from the actors, it could be sound mixing and editing, but some lines are hard to hear. They are too mumbled, and subtitles are sometimes required - especially for someone who hasn't seen it before. That should never happen in a viewing experience. The only SFX error that seems to have been made is that the faces of the Sardukhar soldiers under their helmets don't seem quite right. Not placed right, or disproportionate somehow.

Hans Zimmer's score is... unmatched. Drums as you've never heard them; choir vocals that chill your bones. The themes are iconic. Epic sounds of mystery and intrigue. The vocals share many similarities with Zimmer's previous work on X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and especially his sketchbook on that film, Xperiments from Dark Phoenix. His style is apparent, and a tuned ear can tell he's been growing in his skill the last 5-6 years - even after decades of scoring. That skill is now employed to fully immerse you in the world of Dune. Zimmer takes inspiration from so many parts of the Middle-East to create a cultural listening experience that is innovative and ingenious. Listen to the score, close your eyes, and you'll find yourself walking the sands of Arrakis.

You can rewatch - no, you MUST rewatch it to absorb the quality and the details and all the intricacies of the plot. This is not a film - this is an experience. Every sense is engaged. You hear the wings of the ornithopter, see Paul’s dreams and visions, feel the sand, taste the water, and smell the dry air of Arrakis. Dune: Part One is a solid five stars. No question.

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