Dune: Part Two (2024)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson Synopsis: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Runtime: 2 hr 46 min Release Date: March 1, 2023 Well, Dune: Part Two is finally here. After being delayed for months due to the writer's strike, Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated sequel to the book's first part has finally landed in theaters.
And boy, did the box office and filmgoers ever need a film like this. Villeneuve has become one of my favorite directors in recent years. It all started for me with Prisoners, then Arrival, then Blade Runner 2049, then Dune, and now Dune: Part Two. That is quite the streak, to say the least (and that isn't even including Enemy or Sicario---which I have yet to see). Villeneuve is a filmmaker much like Christopher Nolan--he loves the theater experience, knows how valuable and precious it is, and thus builds movies that have immense scale and spectacle (but importantly, maintains practical sets and action whenever possible), while also being thoroughly cerebral. Villenueve differs from Nolan in that he relies less on dialogue and more on letting scenes breathe. There's a huge amount of "empty" space in Blade Runner 2049--but that's not a bad thing by any means. You always tend to walk away from a Villeneuve film contemplating about some aspect in the film, whether it's a philosophical agenda, character element, or even a single shot. The frame is Villeneuve's canvas, just like Nolan. And Dune: Part Two is no exception. Once again, we are fully immersed in the dry, desert landscape of Arrakis (the IMAX experience is definitely worth it here again). As I believe I mentioned in my original review of Dune, you almost feel thirsty watching this film. You just feel like you're there. There's once again sweeping landscape shots and incredible sets and production design work here. But the biggest difference you'll see in this film from the first is simply the sheer amount of action. You didn't even need to read the source novel to know that a lot of action was coming, with Paul's father being killed and his family exiled in the first film. And there's payoff after payoff in Part Two. This film is even bigger and bolder than the first (yes, that is possible). The loaded action (which is largely practical) is well choreographed and entertaining, and there's even more sets and high end production design work going on. There's also an influx of more characters--we see a lot more of Chani (Zendaya) as promised, and she's even given a larger role than she had in the novel, as she has doubts over whether Paul really is the messiah that the Fremen believe him to be. But the newcomer that really steals the show is Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, the Baron's other nephew next to Rabban (Dave Bautista). Butler is my favorite up and coming actor, and he's straight up ruthless here, disposing of anyone that seemingly stands in his way or challenges him without a second thought. He steals every scene he's in, and is a great asset and villain that really elevates an already loaded cast. While the film has great action, visuals, and superb direction from Villeneuve, the struggle inside Paul is the heart and soul of the film. He's trying to find himself, while becoming more and more aware of what's coming, and fearing what he will do once he attains full power. To want to rid your world of those who took everything from you and save an entire civilization from tyranny, but know in doing so will in turn cause the future death of millions and billions is an impossible thought process to go through, and we join Paul in his struggle in all of it. This central character element grounds the film in what would otherwise be a visually striking, but empty popcorn flick, and helps us sympathize with Paul, while also fearing what he will become. Dune: Part Two is yet another home run from Villeneuve, who is on a hot streak that hopefully continues with his intention to direct Dune Messiah, based on the second book in the series. He's one of the few filmmakers out there that we can depend on to deliver entertaining, yet thought-provoking cinema, and I can't wait to see where his career continues to go down the road. Grade: A (95%) Written by Anthony Watkins, February 28, 2024 |