Dune Film Review (No Spoilers)

'Dune' Warner Bros.

If one film has been talked about most over the past two years, I’d argue that Dune is the name that comes to mind (and rightfully so). An original concept created by author Frank Herbert in 1965 as a science-fiction novel has gone through 3 previous on-screen adaptations (two TV mini-series, and one film) which never resonated with viewers. Fortunately, Writer and Director, Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Prisoners) took this extremely complex story and brought it to life unlike any previous adaptation.

Synopsis:

“Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), 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.”

What You See, Feel, and Hear

There’s a difficulty in presenting a story as complex and creative as Dune and allowing the viewer to feel a sense of realism, yet Dune has done just that. This is a testament to Villeneuve’s directing style as shown in movies such as Blade Runner 2049 or Arrival, where regardless of the scale of science-fiction he allows you to feel as if these worlds are around you and possible to experience. Visually, you get a glimpse into a future that very few imagine, yet many predict, and that is one of scarce resources; a very dry, desert-filled story with a neutral color balance, yet nothing short of cinematic with the introduction of many worlds on screen.

Though, the visual aspect is what initially caught my attention, the one aspect I walked away thinking about was the score by Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar). Each sound and vocal were tailored so tight for this film specifically, that it’s difficult to imagine someone listening to this soundtrack without the film being present. With a “tribal awakening” direction to the music that was created, the score added depth and understanding to a story that may have been more confusing without it. The score also brought out the emotions that were difficult to feel at certain times.

The film left me in a state of curiosity; not due to a lack of storytelling, but rather a lack of full understanding, and that’s OKAY. The story was new to me, and very complex with intricate details throughout the 2h 35m runtime. However, because of the quality of visual effects, storytelling, score, and acting, I’m eager to go watch this film again and that’s a trait that every movie should seek to allow viewers to feel; a desire watch the movie again!

My Take

Overall, I enjoyed Dune. I had high expectations coming into this film and needed a couple days to process what I experienced. I enjoyed the film because of the original story. Yes, this story has been shown three previous times on screen. However, this is the first time we experience a collaboration of storytelling, directing, acting, composing, and film work quite like this within the franchise. My main critique for this film is capturing the right emotions. The actors and actresses portrayed their emotions authentically yet I believe Villeneuve, the Director of Photography, and their team could have used alternative lenses in order to enhance the emotions in specific scenes where the opportunity was available. (a minor missed opportunity)

Last, but not least, this film was created to be seen in IMAX and I highly recommend doing so. At the very least, I recommend watching this film in theaters.

Grade: 8.7/10