Dune

Dune
Starring Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya
Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Some novels seem almost impossible to be put to screen in an effective manner, and Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi epic Dune seemed to be one of them, having had two iterations before this (1984's David Lynch-directed version was a box office bomb, and Lynch himself has disowned it due to heavy producer restrictions and not being allowed a director's cut, as well as the 2000 miniseries that was well received but not technically a movie). Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve decided that he wanted to tackle the tough job of bringing the novel to the big screen in a big way - by splitting the novel into two movies, and giving the original source material it's due diligence. The result is the first half of the novel being released, and while it suffered some pitfalls at the start, turned out to be a more-than-serviceable outing filled with impeccable visuals, soul-reaching music, and exceptional performances.

In the distant future, the world has expanded to include intergalactic travel and is filled with differing ruling houses that all want the same thing - "spice," which is essentially crude oil that is needed for travel as well as sustaining human vitality, and is only found on the desert world known as Arrakis. The Emperor has assigned control of Arrakis to the House of Atreides, led by Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), with his son Paul (Timothee Chalamet) the ducal heir. Paul has gone through extensive fighting training with weapons master Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) and swordmaster Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), but he also learned from his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) on how to use the "voice," which is an ability to control someone to do whatever they wish. Together they leave their home for Arakkis, as Paul continually has visions of the desert planet and the mysterious Chani (Zendaya), who seems to be leading him to a greater purpose.

Upon arriving in Arakkis they set up base and are attacked by the rival House Harkonnen, led by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) and his nephew Glossu Rabban (Dave  Bautista), sending Paul and Jessica into the desert wilderness where they come into contact with the native Fremen people, led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem), and where Paul meets Chani face-to-face. Together they plan to rescue Arakkis from the House of Harkonnen as Paul faces his destiny as being the Chosen One that will hopefully bring peace to the world.

In all honesty I've never read the book, and had absolutely no idea going into the movie what to expect, and I was a bit hesitant due to not knowing anything about the history of the people in the story. Names like Arrakis, Harkonnen, Fremen, Atreides, and the like made me apprehensive because I was worried I wasn't going to understand what was happening without a dictionary-length understanding of the terminology, but Villeneuve masterfully was able to offer expository dialogue that got me up to speed almost immediately without it feeling like expository dialogue. The script flowed naturally and progressively, making it easy to understand what was happening for someone being so "green" in the world of Herbert's creation. Essentially, in layman's terms, it's about feuding families who all want the most sought after substance in the universe, while the main character undergoes his own transformation into a prophesied Chosen One that's been a solid motif of science fiction films for decades (such as "Star Wars," "The Matrix," and the like). Not being saddled with the worries of not understanding terminologies, I was able to relax and appreciate the film in all its epic grandeur.

And grand it is. Every aspect of the film is truly cinematic, something that Villeneuve was worried about when Warner Bros. made a deal with HBOMax to stream their big screen films on the streaming service on the same day. He stated that the studio "might have just killed the film...streaming can produce great content, but not movies of "Dune's" scope and scale. Warner Bros.' decision means "Dune" won't have the chance to perform financially in order to be viable and piracy will ultimately triumph...My team and I devoted more than three years of our lives to make it a unique big screen experience. Our movie's image and sound were meticulously designed to be seen in theaters." While at first it seemed like Villeneuve was crying over nothing, recent history proved he had a point - movies that have been simultaneously released on streaming and cinemas have been met with less box office revenue than they would've otherwise (look no further than the comparison to "Black Widow" - which was released both on screen and Disney+ for an added fee, and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings", which was solely put on the big screen). Seeing how the second half of Villeneuve's "Dune" film was based on whether or not the movie would be a success was also weighing heavy on his mind, as he feared more people would watch at home than go to the movies. While it's too early to tell, the movie did fairly well on opening weekend, and it's pretty much all but guaranteed that the second half of the novel will be put on the big screen as well. Seeing the movie in cinemas, I have to agree with his assessment - seeing it at home, no matter how good of a sound system and screen you have, would pale in comparison to the cinematic experience, and unless you're apprehensive to still go out due to the pandemic, you should see this epic on the biggest screen possible.

"Dune" boasts one of the biggest ensemble pieces in recent memory, with a list a mile wide of A-list actors who give it their all to bring Villeneuve's dream to reality. Timothee Chalamet steps out of his traditional independent films to star in his first major blockbuster as Paul, and he does so with his brooding intelligence that us cinephiles have come to know and love for years now. Oscar Isaac leads his house with resolve and also empathy, while Rebecca Ferguson proves that she's no damsel in distress in any situation. Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem also perform brilliantly as secondary characters, and they all come together to give a rousing, compelling experience.

Villeneuve spares no expense with this project, which was a pet project for him for several years, and it shows in the tender care he shows the source material and the entire process. Cinematographer Grieg Fraser, editor Joe Walker, and production designer Patrice Vermette will easily earn all the awards nominations this year, as "Dune" is a visionary wonder - from the lavish desert landscapes to the intense fighting and everything in between, there's never a moment where your visionary senses aren't tingling. Equally, renowned composer Hans Zimmer delivers a score that penetrates your soul, offering an intensive feel for what's happening on screen and adding even more to the glorious depictions seen therein.

Denis Villeneuve delivers another impeccable product with "Dune," the first part of a two-movie story that's dazzling in its wide scope, telling a compelling story with vivid imagery, intense action, and committed performances that'll resonate with you long after it ends.

The Score: A+