Dune (2021): A Sci-Fi Epic For Adults
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.
Tackling Frank Herbert’s Dune is not an easy task. Filmmakers have tried and failed (in one way or another) to translate Herbert’s political sci-fi epic to screen; Alejandro Jodorowsky’s well-documented unsuccessful attempt is easily one of the best films never made, and David Lynch’s intriguingly strange, yet deeply flawed interpretation famously remains one of sci-fi’s biggest flops. Unlike those who failed before him, Villeneuve proves he’s a worthy interpreter of Herbert’s expansive epic.
With Dune, Villeneuve delivers another adult-oriented sci-fi blockbuster that’s meticulously crafted and masterfully executed. He remains true to Herbert’s novel and beautifully articulates its complexity. There’s a lot of moving pieces and players, but Villeneuve lays out the narrative in a clear and economical way. There’s no massive exposition dumps here (one of the many issues with Lynch’s version). While certain elements of the world warrant some explanation, Villeneuve sticks to context and subtext whenever possible, allowing the little details to do the heavy lifting.
The large-scale world Villeneuve constructs feels fully realized and grounded despite its absurdly massive size (which occasionally borders on the comical). It’s not anywhere near as bizarre or grotesque as Lynch’s version, but it’s streaked with moments of weirdness (which we wished were a bit more prevalent). Some of it feels very reminiscent of Star Wars, which is understandable since Lucas nicked many of his ideas from Herbert’s book, but the look and the feel is much more hypnotic and lyrical, amplified (and sometimes suffocated) by Hans Zimmer’s thundering score (which becomes its own character).
The only downside to Villeneuve’s epic is it’s only a sliver of Dune’s story. None of the film’s marketing billed it part of a larger story, so it’s easy to be blindsided by its inconclusive ending. But this is ultimately a good thing as it allows the story room to breathe and unfold satisfactorily — we don’t need another messy incomprehensible version of Dune; we have Lynch’s stinky clunker for that. The main thing is that the story and its politics are clearly communicated and easy to follow, and that wouldn’t have been the case if Herbert’s sweeping story were condensed to one film. To the film’s credit, there’s still a sense of completeness to it, despite it being a “Part One.”
Overall, Villeneuve’s Dune is a slow-burning, political, coming-of-age epic fit for the largest possible screen. It boasts one of the year’s best ensemble casts, all of which give sterling performances. In particular, Timothée Chalame, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, and Rebecca Ferguson are terrific, but it’s Oscar Isaac’s immaculate beard that emerges as the standout. It’s an immersive experience with an intriguing story and compelling characters, so we look forward to next chapter in the saga.
Recommendation: Whether you’re a fan of Villeneuve, Herbert, or adult sci-fi in general, there’s a lot to love about the first installment of Dune. Definitely give it a watch if you haven’t already.
Rating: 4.5 magnificent Oscar Isaac beards outta 5.
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What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!