Impressively made and powerfully told, the bar for best film of the year has officially been set. I wish all upcoming films good luck. Many are saying Dune: Part Two (2024) deserves to be ranked among the greatest science fiction films ever made and I agree.
The film is a technical marvel. Dune (2021), which was Part One, took home six Oscars and I’ll be shocked if Part Two doesn’t continue the trend. The costumes, make-up, and production design are all top notch. The cinematography reminds the viewer of why we like movies in the first place. Film, after all, is a visual artform and this is one of the best looking movies I’ve ever seen. Cinematographer Greg Fraser should easily repeat his Part One Oscar win. The sound design is immersive. Hans Zimmer’s score transports you to another world, no pun intended. Quite simply, all the craftsmen are at the top of their game.
The ensemble cast nails it. All the returning actors and actresses never miss a beat as they continue their work. The newcomers fit in perfectly. While everyone is great, I felt like Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, and Austin Butler were the standouts. The trio continue to prove why they are rising stars. Butler’s unrecognizable transformation as the bad guy was both creepy and captivating. Butler choosing to base his unique accent on Stellan Skarsgard, his onscreen uncle, was a stroke of genius. Chalamet and Zendaya give career best performances. As the lead of a huge movie and plot that revolves around his character needing to embody messianic qualities, Chalamet does so with ease. Zendaya is really the heart and soul here. Essentially, the duo successfully carry the story’s emotional weight.
Director and Co-writer Denis Villeneuve did the seemingly impossible. Dune, the original novel written by Frank Herbert, has long been considered unfilmable. The acclaimed and beloved science fiction epic is considered the Lord of the Rings of its genre if that says anything. Many filmmakers have tried to adapt the classic story but none have quite stuck the landing until now. While the 1984 film and 2000 miniseries have their moments, they unfortunately struggled with both pacing and tone. Villeneuve’s wise decision to split the story up into two parts feels earned.He brings the gravitas and technical mastery the story has always deserved. Like many other critics, and as cheesy as it may sound, I too thought “This is cinema” a few times during the runtime.
The unconventional story will make you think. With Dune’s epic scale, Chosen One narrative, romance, special powers, political intrigue and competing families, it’s easy to see how the original novel inspired both Star Wars and Game of Thrones. While some of the themes and storytelling techniques are classic, others are quite different from what you might be expecting. Heavy concepts, such as holy war, power struggle, destiny, religious prophecy, free will, group acceptance, and family loyalty, are handled in a solemn yet non-heavy handed manner that invites the viewer to ponder what and whose side they agree with.
I have no criticisms per se but will admit that one’s mileage may vary. Dune has always been respected for its literary contributions. It has also always been seen as an intriguing yet strange story. I feel like Villeneuve did an exceptional job with faithfully adapting the story while still keeping a wide audience in mind. Audience response is very positive but how well one responds to the world of Dune just depends on the person. I loved it and would recommend everyone judge it for themselves. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the screen in my showing for sure.
The entire cast and crew should be proud of what they have accomplished here. Dune: Part Two succeeds as an entertaining blockbuster, technical masterpiece, successful adaptation, and thought-provoking narrative.
My score is an A.
