As a self-proclaimed movie connoisseur (and Timothee Chalamet fan), I was extremely excited to see Denis Villeneuve’s Dune reboot, which was released on October 20, 2021. I was familiar with Villeneuve’s work on Arrival (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), so I knew that the sets and landscapes would be beautifully crafted. I was also interested in the great divide between the media surrounding this movie. It seemed like half of the world loved it and the other half hated it. Its success is definitely thanks to the movie’s star studded cast, including Timothee Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Oscar Isaac (Duke Leto Atreides), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), and many more who gave great performances. I thought the film was a beautifully crafted masterpiece, and touched upon current issues, including religion, economy, and humanity.
One element that makes Dune spectacular is the use of extensive world building. The movie takes its time to explain the world and the culture, making it much easier for audiences to understand. Villeneuve understands that without a solid exposition, the movie would not make sense. In the first 3 minutes, we are introduced to the sci-fi world of Arrakis, home of the Fremen, which has been ruled by the Harkonnen tribe who have abused their native spice. After failed attempts to stop them, the off-screen Emperor banishes the Harkonnens from the land and orders it to the House of Atreides. Their entire universe and economy are ruled by the spice, a drug that allows people to travel through space, natively from Arrakis. If that isn’t confusing enough, add the fact that Paul Atreides might be the messiah and Zendaya’s character only being in about 10 minutes of the almost 3-hour movie.
I was also impressed with the relationship of Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica. Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson gave amazing performances and built a connection over their psychic Bene Gesserit abilities that she has passed down to him. After their lives come crashing down on them, they have a scene full of raw emotion, which I found so powerful. Rebecca Ferguson deserves all the Oscar buzz she is getting for this role!
Throughout the movie, audiences are exposed to political undertones. Monarchies command smaller “houses” to occupy or colonize areas to seek wealth of their natural resources. We also see the hierarchy of certain groups, with House Atreides as an upper-class superpower and the Fremen of Arrakis known as “native ravagers”. These issues echo ones of modern-day society, and the movie is an outlet to visualize what happens when societies try to colonize other societies. These issues are communicated to viewers through expansive cinematography, headed by Greig Frasier. The cinematography shows the structure of each world, which had me in awe the entire film. The shots transported me into the film and made me forget I was seeing a movie. With the recent announcement of Dune: Part Two, audiences understand what Zendaya meant in the movie when her character Chani said, “this is only the beginning.” To feed your Dune obsession, I suggest watching the original movie directed by David Lynch. As beautifully confusing the film seemed at times, I am so excited to pick up where the movie left off and re-enter into the immersive world of Dune.