Dune Review
I decided to rewatch my favorite best picture nominee of the year leading up to this weekend’s Oscar ceremony, and now that Dune is far enough removed from its release, I believe I can finally write a full review on it. After my first two watches of Dune, I was left speechless, and I honestly did know how to write about it. Watching this movie was literally as if the pages were directly translated to the screen with ease, and I still cannot believe Denis Villeneuve pulled off adapting this material to be such a surreal cinematic experience.
From the start, Dune throws audiences into a story that is instantly different from any science-fiction film. It is set far into the future and focuses on the political aspect of a dystopian society, that has branched out into the universe, rather than space exploration itself. Additionally, it hones in on the psychology of its integral characters. Layered in are themes of ecology, religion, evolution, and imperialism, all making this world (or worlds, rather) feel heavily lived in.
The themes and ideas are what make the story of Dune unique, but the cinematography, production design, and visual effects bring this story to life. What Villeneuve and his crew managed to accomplish with under a $200 million dollar budget is truly astounding. This is one of the most expensive looking films I have ever seen, and the aesthetic perfectly captures the essence of the source material. From the jaw-dropping scenic shots of Caladan and Arrakis to the meticulously detailed sets to the hyper-realistic visual effects, these elements collectively make for an utterly immersive visual experience.
Furthermore, Hans Zimmer created one of the most distinctive and eccentric scores in cinema history. Whether a track is ethereal, intentionally chaotic, or somewhere in-between, the recurring melodies remain on loop in my head for days after watching this film. The effort and creativity Zimmer put into this film is unmatched because he legitimately fabricated new sounds and instruments and inspired his musicians to play their instruments in unprecedented ways. In addition, the sound effects wonderfully complement Zimmer’s score, and the mixing of all the incredible sounds is superb.
Dune is obviously the first half of the Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, but Denis Villeneuve brilliantly crafted a methodically paced film, with seamless transitions, that still feels like a standalone story apart from what is to come. Though one could fairly argue this is the first half of a story, the place at which the movie ends feels as if it is a natural conclusion to this chapter of Paul’s journey; thus, it results in a satisfying climactic ending that simultaneously leaves viewers contemplating the subsequent events. Dune is a film that should be perceived as its own story without needing a sequel to determine a comprehensive opinion about it.
Though the technical aspects of the filmmaking behind Dune do a phenomenal job with establishing the world building and atmosphere of the story, the performances and characters enhance it all. Dune would not be nearly as acclaimed of a story as it has become over the decades without compelling characters. Each actor impeccably embodies the personality of their respective character. Every character portrayal is complex and interesting in its own manner, and whether it is through captivating dialogue or suspenseful action, everyone has a time to shine.
Dune is the greatest intellectual theatrical experience I have ever had, and it only gets better every time upon rewatch. The world building is fascinating and dense, and the tension throughout the story is completely enthralling. Every frame and every scene is spellbinding, and I genuinely cannot get enough of the lore. Dune is undoubtedly my favorite film of the decade thus far, and as a massive fan of the novel and this live-action adaptation, my excitement and expectations for Dune: Part Two are sky-high. Dune is an absolute masterpiece, and believe it or not, this is only my fourth favorite Denis Villeneuve film.
