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Dune (2021)
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Frank Herbert’s fan-favorite 1965 sci-fi novel “Dune” brought readers to the far-out future of the year 10,191, full of political and religious allegory. If you never read the book, then you’re probably more familiar with David Lynch’s 1984 film version infamous for its style over substance, as well as some weird areas like Sting’s futuristic mankini. Fortunately, co-writer and director Denis Villeneuve (“Blade Runner 2049”) delivers a new and improved adaptation that’s also part of an epic two-parter.
Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) lives under the watchful eye of his father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) of the House of Atreides in the planet Caladan. However, he was trained by the order of the Bene Gesserit to harness special abilities passed onto him by his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). By the order of the Emperor, Caladan’s forces will relocate to the planet Arrakis to oversee mining the planet’s sand spice. Leto along with his top warriors Gurney (Josh Brolin) and Duncan (Jason Momoa) hopes to negotiate a peaceful transition with the desert planet’s inhabitants the Fremen led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem). While that’s happening, Paul continues to have visions of Arrakis, and a mysterious girl named Chani (Zendaya) especially after being told by the Reverend Mother Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling) that he could be the Kwisatz Haderach to help liberate the Fremen.
Meanwhile, the evil Baron Vladimir (Stellan Skarsgard) of the House of Harkonnen in the planet Giedi Prime secretly cohorts with the Emperor to declare war on the House of Atreides and reclaim their mining operations. The Baron’s army led by his nephew Beast Rabban (Dave Bautista) soon attacks the Atreides’ base leaving both Paul and Jessica stranded in the desert where vicious giant sandworms can attack at any moment. Eventually, the two of them find solace in the rocky landscape of the Fremen, where Paul will face his destiny.
As the full title indicates, this is part one of the full story with the second part meant to further the plot and bring the main character’s arc full circle. It’ll be a while before the second half comes out, but this first half succeeds in getting the viewer interested in the world-building foundation and the character drama. Especially with weirdly sounding terms like Gom Jabbar and Ornithopter, it’s a universe as fresh and stylish as the original “Star Wars” that was heavily influenced by the novel with an air of sophistication and class. Fans of the book will also be happy seeing the different planets brought to life through the craft of filming locations and art direction.
Naturally, Villeneuve employs the greatest talent behind the scenes including effects, design and music to help realize Herbert’s extraordinary vision. At the same time, he doesn’t let the visuals outshine the film’s script that expands on the themes and allegories. You can look at these interpretations of politics and religion in today’s world the same way the book was written in the 1960s. Also, just when you’re already enthralled with the experience, the movie ends after a pivotal moment leaving you waiting and hoping for what happens next. It can be very risky for a big-budgeted film like this to end on a cliffhanger, but it still ends on a satisfying note.
The cast is great, with each of the big-name actors giving their chance to shine with each scene they have. Both Chalamet and Zendaya bring a youthful commitment to their roles, while Isaac, Ferguson, and Bardem each gives pathos to the drama. Brolin and Momoa play it tough as well as wonderful comic levity. Skarsgard plays the creepy Baron a lot less over-the-top than Kenneth McMillan in the Lynch film as does Bautista though it’ll be more interesting who will play the unseen Emperor in the second film.
The new “Dune” begins the sci-fi saga on a great note and audiences will likely have the faith and the patience to wait and find out if the second part will carry the first one’s absolute brilliance.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images, and suggestive material)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 4 Stars (Out of Four)
