Dune (2021) Movie Review
Dune is a novel by Frank Herbert that I didn’t even know existed prior to this year. It is allegedly something like 1,000 pages long and is a massive sci-fi saga, but I had never even heard of it until I saw the trailer for Dennis Villeneuve’s two hour and thirty-five minute epic. I love a good sci-fi flick so I was intrigued to say the least. My intrigue was enhanced when I saw the stellar cast so I wanted to give it a go. Dune reminded me a bit of Game of Thrones, mainly because there are “Houses” that are like royalty, there are mythical beasts, and there are a lot of characters and storylines. A lot. It might’ve been better served by adapting it into a mini series, but that’s neither here nor there.
The premise of Dune is complicated to explain but I will do my best. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is being trained by his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) in the ways of the semi-religious order of the Bene Gesserit. This training would allow Paul to essentially mind control people and make them do his bidding. Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), is gifted the planet of Arrakis by an imperial envoy on behalf of the emperor that controls the galaxy. We learn that Arrakis is a planet that many have fought over due to its spices. When I first heard this, my mind automatically went to cooking and I thought dang these spices must be delicious to have people fighting over them. But in reality the “spices” allow for extended space travel. It is basically how people in this galaxy are able to travel from planet to planet in a short amount of time. The people of Arrakis are the ones who are truly suffering as people continue to invade their planet to mine for and harvest the spice.
One might assume that being gifted a planet by the emperor would be a great honor. But Leto recognizes it as some sort of trap and worries about retaliation from the Harkonnens, the last family to have control of the planet. I told you there are a lot of characters and storylines! While Leto is organizing to take over Arrakis, Paul continues having dreams or visions about a young woman who is a Fremen (the people who inhabit Arrakis). Leto, Jessica, and Paul all wind up on Arrakis to oversee the takeover of the planet until things go sideways. I won’t go into the gory details mainly because there are too many intricacies to relay here. It’s no wonder Herbert’s book was nearly 1,000 pages. But that should be enough to give you the flavor of the plot.
What makes Dune distinct are three elements. The first is cinematography. Villeneuve worked with cinematographer Greig Fraser to capture some of the most beautiful scenery and shots I’ve seen this year. The camera moves through each scene wonderfully and you’ll sit in awe as you take in gorgeous shots that display the environment in all of its splendor. The second element that made Dune magnificent was the world building — more specifically the use of CGI. Each planet looked vastly different and there were different styles of buildings, wardrobes, and customs. The attention to detail here was enormous and these elements combined to produce an entirely believable world that you felt engrossed in throughout the movie. Arrakis was a barren desert and you could almost feel the heat coming off the ground through the screen. The CGI was most impressive, churning out realistic looking spaceships and aircraft that zipped through the skies looking incredibly believable.
The third and final element that ties Dune together and makes it such an impressive and fun watch is the acting. Timothée Chalamet puts in another reliable performance as Paul, the young man who has to grow up quickly in order to survive. He has a lot of weight on his thin shoulders and he tries not to lose sight of himself as he must make hard decisions that will affect not just his family but entire planets. Talk about pressure. Zendaya doesn’t have a lot of lines in the movie as she plays Chani, the young woman Paul has recurring dreams about. Her presence is felt throughout the movie and when she finally shows up in reality Zendaya delivers an intense performance that permeates each scene.
There are two more acting performances that stood out to me, although all of the acting is excellent. The first is Jason Momoa who plays the uniquely named Duncan Idaho. Duncan is a burly soldier who mentors Paul and teaches him how to fight and how to be an effective soldier. Their relationship is quite frankly adorable and features a few hugs that will melt the heart of even the coldest person. Momoa is extremely memorable and likeable and infuses Duncan with a pure heart that shines through each scene. The second is Rebecca Ferguson who is truly a scene stealer as Lady Jessica. She has perhaps the most interesting and mysterious character and Ferguson plays it beautifully. The order she is part of seems to have some sort of control over the way things play out but the details are hazy and we don’t get all of the information. She has a loyalty to them that puts her at odds with her family. As a mother she is trying to both protect and prepare Paul for what lies ahead, but she also is forced to take a step back and let him figure things out for himself. Ferguson manages to portray the delicate balance of being a parent while still carving out her own path as an individual. In several scenes Ferguson conveys a myriad of emotions using no dialogue whatsoever. An all around impressive cast combine to create an incredible experience that fully immerses you in the world for the entire runtime.
Dune is a long film, and it takes a while to get going. Some will be bored until the action hits, but personally I was engrossed the whole time by the story and the world. Villeneuve crafted a spectacular sci-fi epic and I was excited to hear that there would be a sequel coming in 2023. This story is far from complete and I have a feeling Dune Part Two will be packed with even more action and an even more compelling story. But for now, my advice to you is to find the biggest screen you can, and sit back and enjoy this fun and entertaining movie.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like sci-fi stories like Star Wars
2. You like intricate plot lines with a lot of moving pieces
3. You like action movies with fantastical elements
