Dune: Part One
It really shows that Dune is acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve’s dream project, as he’s delivered a sci-fi epic that effortlessly builds a fully-realised universe in a way that should appeal to both new viewers and life-long fans of the original novel. Packed full of breath-taking visuals and boasting a truly all-star cast, this is a future classic in the making.
Premise: In the far future, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), heir to Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) of House Atreides, must join his father and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), when their family is ordered by the Emperor to take stewardship of the desert planet of Arrakis. But political forces are moving against House Atreides, and House Harkonnen, the former stewards of Arrakis led by Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) and his nephew Rabban (Dave Bautista), are not happy to have lost their valuable prize.
Review:
I’ll say from the outset that I’ve not read Frank Herbert’s Dune novels, and I barely remember watching David Lynch’s 1984 movie adaptation, so I’m reviewing this version from Denis Villeneuve as its own thing, rather than comparing it to the novel or the earlier adaptations. And judged on its own two feet, Dune: Part One is an absolute triumph, not least because of the way it so effortlessly introduces new viewers to the countless new concepts, people and organisations that populate this fictional universe.
Before watching this film, I didn’t know the Fremen from the Sardaukar, a Bene Gesserit from a Mentat, but the genius of Dune: Part One is that this didn’t affect my enjoyment of the film at all. Director and co-writer Denis Villeneuve masterfully delivers tonnes of universe-building backstory to new viewers using a variety of techniques, in a way that feels organic, effortless and not at all like the clunky exposition-dumps that lesser films have been guilty of. In this respect, I would say that Dune: Part One is arguably the most successful example of a universe-building opening film in a series since The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
“…the universe-building backstory never feels that complicated or too hard to follow…”
Because make no mistake, this is the first chapter in a much larger story, and if you are expecting a one-and-done self-contained story, you will be disappointed. At the time the film was made, the studio had not officially greenlit a sequel (and the marketing for the film wisely avoided giving any impression that this was only the first part of a larger story), but the opening title card in the film itself unambiguously confirms that this is “Dune: Part One”. Thankfully, within a week of the film opening, the studio officially announced that Dune: Part Two had been greenlit and would hit cinemas in Autumn 2023, so viewers left hungry for more by the end of Dune: Part One will not be left unsatisfied.
I won’t try to explain the plot (even the non-spoilery parts) in this review, as I would just make the film sound more complicated than it actually is. Because while there is a lot of universe-building backstory in Dune: Part One, it’s delivered in such a seamless way that it never feels that complicated or too hard to follow. Suffice to say that the film incorporates elements of religious prophesy and political intrigue, and touches on issues like imperialism and colonialism, while also delivering a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of an action-packed sci-fi adventure. With so much to squeeze in, it was unquestionably the right decision to split Frank Herbert’s source novel into two films, as it would never have been possible to fit everything into one film and still do it justice (Dune: Part One on its own is over two and a half hours long, although the time never drags).
“…with a cast this talented, everyone is able to make a real impression even with limited screentime…”
Denis Villeneuve has assembled a truly all-star cast for this film, but front and centre is Timothée Chalamet in his first leading role in a Hollywood blockbuster. He makes the transition from indie film sensation look easy, but it’s great to see that he’s chosen such an intelligent film for his first blockbuster (and avoided the Titanic-esque “pretty boy” roles that so many other young actors have had to take). His on-screen parents are played by the always brilliant Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson, who both get plenty of material to sink their teeth into, while the rest of House Atreides includes the always reliable Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, and the ever charming Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho.
House Harkonnen are represented by Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista and David Dastmalchian, while the indigenous people of Arrakis include Zendaya and Javier Bardem. The nature of the plot means that some characters get more to do in Dune: Part One than others (some characters, in particular, seem to have been introduced briefly here just so that their stories can be expanded in Part Two), but with a cast this talented, everyone is able to make a real impression even with limited screentime.
“…full of shots that wouldn’t look out of place on a wall as a piece of art…”
Visually, Dune: Part One is as impressive as Denis Villeneuve‘s Blade Runner 2049 was back in 2017, except that it also benefits from some breath-taking natural spectacle, thanks to the location filming in places such as Jordan and Norway. The end result is a combination of epic vistas that look amazing on the big screen, and artistic and atmospheric shots that wouldn’t look out of place on a wall as a piece of art.
But it’s not just the cinematography that deserves recognition. The production design on the film is some of the best I’ve seen in any sci-fi film – each planet and civilisation has its own distinct cultural feel, while the technology has a real weight and groundedness to it, particularly the impressively realised “ornithopters”, which feel like a cross between a dragonfly, a helicopter and an x-wing fighter. In fact, it’s easy to see how the novel Dune was a stylistic influence on Star Wars, and many other sci-fi blockbusters over the last 50 years. The costume department and make-up team are also at the top of their game, with the prosthetics for Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen being particularly impressive, while the fight choreography is also excellent (as personal forcefields that block projectile fire have resulted in swords and knives becoming the preferred military weapons).
“…an epic blockbuster that deserves to be seen on the big screen…”
Overall, Dune: Part One is the kind of film that should appeal to both casual viewers looking for big-screen, bombastic, blockbuster entertainment, and those looking for something with more intellectual depth and nuance. It has excitement and spectacle, but it also has plenty of intrigue and political manoeuvrings, and at times, a sombre, almost Shakespearian, sense of foreboding. An epic blockbuster that deserves to be seen on the big screen, this film left me already impatient for Dune: Part Two in 2023.
