An incredibly innovative film, with jaw-dropping visuals, powerful performances, an impeccable score, and complex themes, Dune Part II is the closest a blockbuster has been to perfection since The Lord of the Rings.
Denis Villeneuve is at the top of his directing powers with Dune. Considered one of the most unadaptable science fiction novels of all time, Villeneuve feels uniquely attuned to bring it to life given his track record and visual language. Coming off of films like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, his two Dune films may very well be his best work yet.
Dune Part II completes the second half of Frank Herbert’s epic and the film feels every bit as impressive. Led by an ensemble of talented actors like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem and Austin Butler, Dune Part II has no shortage of the best of Hollywood’s talent. In many ways, the cast treats Dune as if they are on set of The Lord of the Rings. The chance to be a part of a sci-fi fantasy film series that will live on for generations a jewel of the genre is too good to pass up. This pays off spades as each actor brings out their best performance, particularly with Chalamet. While readers of the novel won’t be too surprised by the character arc of Paul Atreides, Chalamet plays that arc with a sense of bleakness that carries the film with a unique voice.
Less of the Frodo or Luke Skywalker archetype that film might fake-out the audiences with in Part I, Paul Atreides comes across as present danger in the midst of his heroism in the latest installment. As the Fremen of planet Arrakis debate whether Paul fits the prophecy to ultimately free them, there is a looming sense of destruction ahead. In Part I, flash forwards are briefly shown to the audience featuring Atreides leading armies and conquering worlds. Part II follows up on these premonitions and Paul’s ultimate character arc comes to a crescendo. There are many reasons why Dune is considered difficult to adapt. Whether it’s the surreal sci-fi elements hard to translate on screen or the dreamlike future installments to come, the series requires an incredibly strong director and cast to put it together. With Villeneuve and Chalamet leading, Hollywood found its perfect pairing.
The supporting cast of Dune Part II is phenomenal as well. Zendaya, playing the character of Chani, is more of a co-star to Chalamet rather than a supporting star. She plays the role with a somber strength and is vibrant on screen. Rebecca Ferguson is particularly fantastic in the film, playing Paul’s mother, Jessica. As her character becomes fully engrossed in the prophecy of her son and uses her abilities as a Bene Gesserit to manipulate others, Ferguson effortlessly blends a motherly instinct to protect with a frightening and powerful aura to destroy. Simply put, she stole every scene she was in. Austin Butler is also a standout as Feyd-Rautha. A highly coveted role, Butler loses himself in the role and plays an incredible antagonist. In a film series where the lines of good and evil are blurred and no one is altruistic, Butler’s character is a welcome sense of pure dread. Bardem, Brolin, Pugh, Bautista, and Seydoux all shine as well.
Technically, Dune Part II is unmatched in comparison to recent blockbusters. Where most big-budget films from Marvel and DC look to maximize profit by appealing to the lowest common dominator of audiences, Dune feels like a product of a bygone era. The VFX has a level of polish that hasn’t been seen since The Lord of the Rings, the prequel Star Wars Trilogy, or Pirates of the Caribbean. The score by Hans Zimmer has gravitas and weight, a far cry from the mostly forgettable scores of today’s blockbusters. The cinematography and shot structure is incredibly grand, a credit to Greig Fraser being one of the best in the business. Expect Dune Part II to be well-represented during the next awards season. In an era of Hollywood where blockbusters have largely felt like fast food, Dune Part II feels like it was made to be art instead of content. Pending a strong box office performance, here’s hoping all studios return to form and make films with this level of craft and care.
While Dune Part II is a masterpiece and brilliant from a technical, storytelling, and performance perspective, it is also not without an inherent flaw. For a series that is heavily inspired by Arab culture and Islamic themes, there’s a severe lack of Middle Eastern or North African representation. While you may see some MENA actors in the background as extras, there is no excuse to not cast someone Arab in a film series that borrows clothing, words, themes, and more from Arab culture. This is exasperated given the crisis in Palestine and Hollywood’s overall lack of empathy on the issue. The industry is still very behind on Arab and Muslim representation on screen and sadly Dune was another missed opportunity.
Overall, Dune Part II is a cinematic achievement. The film is a collection of some of the best filmmakers, actors, composers, and artists coming together to create a true masterpiece. Like The Lord of the Rings, Villeneuve’s Dune films are destined to stand the test of time.
5/5
★★★★★
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