A new telling of the 1984 cinematic masterpiece by David Lynch, Frank Herbert’s classic tale, Dune, is the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his journey toward saving the galaxy. When the adolescent Paul is tasked with bringing peace to a universe in turmoil and saving the people he loves he must come to terms with who he is, and how to give all that he has for those around him. Being just a child poses a number of difficulties, but Paul is presented with challenges that individuals his age could never imagine, yet, it’s become his duty. Does the young warrior have the ability to do all that he is asked, or will the horrors of the universe in which he lives continue?
First thing’s first–the cast in this remake of the 1984 film of the same name is impeccable in relation to both aesthetic and thespian talent. In particular, I believe that Chalamet’s casting is one of the best viewers have seen in any film in some time. The physical similarities between him and Kyle MacLachlan are almost eerie, and as much of the world knows, Chalamet is one of the most talented young individuals in Hollywood. He possesses all of the tangibles needed to convey emotion and bring his characters to life. He’s full of life, vigor, and every other aspect needed to embody the pragmatic protagonistic Paul. The immense talent extends far past Chalamet, however, into each and every actor on screen. I found this group of actors to be far more energetic and passionate about their tasks than the cast of the previous rendition of Dune (1984), and they help to bring this imaginary world of chaos to life bigger and better than before.
There are some changes made to the narrative as the physical absence of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (played by José Ferrer in the original film) and the complete absence of Feyd Rautha (Sting) demand changes to how instances play out and characters develop throughout Dune. Who can blame the writers for making changes, though? It’s clear that critics and fans will compare the two renditions of the story (just look at my review), and changing pieces of the puzzle and developing new aspects for modern viewers is a smart move. These changes are warranted, welcome, and enticing, breathing new life into a story that has developed a cult following over the course of the past almost forty years.
There are so many moving parts, and Dune requires damn-near perfection throughout the course of the film. Viewers see the beauty of what each actor has to offer and they appreciate the changes made to the narrative, but the greatest thing that Dune has to offer are the visuals. Films are getting bigger, bigger than ever before, and blockbuster hits such as Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens have relied heavily on their visuals to find success, but Dune surpasses all that those, and other films, have to offer in this regard. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe what Dune offers viewers in terms of aesthetics. Please don’t misconstrue my next statement: if everything else about Dune was done horribly, the special effects, sets, costumes, and all other aspects of the aesthetic would have been more than enough to find the film success.
Did the world need an updated version of Dune (1984)? No, but the reality is that it got one. Honestly, I’m not sure that the world was prepared for how brilliant Dune would be, as it checks nearly every box for fans of the original and of the novel, and it entertains new viewers as well. From acting to storytelling and cinematography to special effects Dune is everything that fans didn’t realize they needed. Dune is one of the best films of the year and an example of cinematic and visual excellence. I’m not the first to say it, and I won’t be the last: watch Dune on the biggest screen possible.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Written by Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, & Frank Herbert.
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Mamoa, Stellan Skarsgård, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Chang Chen, Dave Bautista, David Dastmalchian, Zendaya, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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