The blockbuster adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction epic Dune is a film bursting with high fantasy and visual wonders. Denis Villeneuve’s two and a half hour film (encompassing about half of the first book in the series) strips back the detail in order to tell a sleek and compelling story of political intrigue and indigenous resistance to colonialism. Between the immensity of the narrative and the effects used to render it upon the big screen, Dune is an impressive bit of filmmaking, even if it is sometimes dense, daunting and uneven.
The powerful Atreides family is selected by the Emperor of the universe to become the stewards of the planet Arrakis, where they will ensure the continued production of Spice, the most valuable commodity in existence. Their mission is complicated by the planet’s former master, Baron Harkonnen, who seeks to destabilise the Atreides rule by way of murder and sabotage. Paul, the young heir to Duke Leto Atreides, must learn how to survive amidst the brutal politics of this feudal order, as well as the ways of his new home, where water is sacred and giant, deadly sand worms populate the desert environment.
Villeneuve and his writing team have chosen to pare back certain elements of the story in order to create a more fluid and less complicated narrative in this film. While the exposition is dense and easy to miss, the bones of the story are there and work to create a feeling of dread and wonder as Paul discovers the dangers of his situation, as well as new strengths within himself previously unknown. Some elements seem hobbled together and could potentially have been fleshed out more cohesively. In saying that, however, one must also acknowledge the weight of the story and also the fact that the film fits together and flows quite well. For the most part the action of the plot continues to move forward throughout, though there are some moments of quiet, dramatic tension which don’t work so well. This comes down less to the writing as it does to some of the casting.
Timothée Chalamet is good in the lead, although at times his performance becomes a little melodramatic. This isn’t enough to derail the film though, especially when you consider he is essentially playing a teenager completely out of his depth. Stellan Skarsgård and Oscar Isaac are both excellent in their relatively few scenes and Rebecca Ferguson does well in the role of Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica. She brings to the film a balance of power and timidity which suits the character and narrative quite well. The real star, undoubtedly, is Jason Momoa. His confidence and charisma is a constant throughout the film. This is a contrast to Josh Brolin’s performance which at times feels wooden and forced.
The visual effects in Dune are fairly remarkable. Where in other films of this size and scope the CGI can become bombastic and off-putting, Villeneuve manages to restrain these elements so they appear seamless. The score by Hans Zimmer is also a winner, in that it doesn’t feel intrusive, merely complimenting the visual style and tone of the film. The editing by Joe Walker (a regular collaborator of both Villeneuve and Steve McQueen) is also strong, creating a feeling of dreams blending into reality.
While Dune isn’t a perfect film, it gets pretty close to being a masterpiece of science fiction cinema. Far superior tonally and in consistency to the oft-maligned film by David Lynch (still quite good, for all it’s faults) Villeneuve’s adaptation is a film that deserves multiple viewings. This serves not only a better understanding of all the moving parts, but will also allow it to unwind slowly in the minds of audiences. While we can only hope that the next film in the series is as bold and well executed as the first, Dune – Part One works in it’s own right as a cosmic and cinematic opus which filmmakers in the genre are sure to draw from in the years to come.
4/5
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