Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson star in the conclusion (?) of a masterful epic, directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Sumptuous and elegant, the second part of Denis Velleneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel matches or exceeds Dune: Part One, about which I wrote in 2021:
“Villeneuve creates a mesmerizing masterpiece, overflowing with serious eye candy. The film looks genuinely spectacular on a big screen, accompanied by a swirling and thunderous soundtrack that often rumbled the seats where I saw it at an ATMOS theater.”
The key characters remain Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). They anchor the story, which follows them on two parallel threads.
Paul seeks to become fully enmeshed with the Fremen, the desert planet’s native people, who are led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Paul is befriended by Chani (Zendaya), a fierce Fremen warrior, and she helps him with his training to become a mighty warrior, and perhaps something more. For her part, Lady Jessica follows a path to become Reverend Mother, a powerful spiritual force on the planet.
Meanwhile, the rival House Harkonnen, led by the grunting Baron (Stellan Skarsgard) and the ever-obedient Rabban (Dave Bautista), wages war upon the Fremen. Rabban’s brother (?), Feyd (Austin Butler), stands ready to wage an even more destructive battle against the Fremen.
All the while, the Emperor (Christopher Walken) and his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) await, with another Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling) offering further, diabolical counsel. Somehow, Lady Margot (Lea Seydoux) figures into things as well, leading unsuspecting men astray yet further.
The sprawling story is difficult to follow at times, but as I wrote before:
“Only the basic outline matters: rival royal houses, loyal families, mysterious powers, treachery, fierce battles, and giant sandworms, capable of swallowing people, places, and things of all shapes and sizes.”
Director Denis Denis Velleneuve, who is credited for the script alongside Jon Spaihts, masterminds an adventure that is, once again, mesmerizing and sumptuous to behold on the big screen, a cinematic experience that respects Frank Herbert’s novel, while also becoming its own completely unique and distinctive creation. It’s fascinating to watch unfurl, as it shakes the house in a manner that is rousing and truly magnificent, even if it is often incomprehensible.
Truly, it’s the best reason to get up off the couch at home and go see it for yourself, at the best movie theater you can afford. I don’t know what else to say.
The film opens Friday, March 1, only in movie theaters, throughout Dallas and Fort Worth. For more information about the film, visit the official site.
Dallas Film Now. 