Dune (2021) - Movie Review

So after having watched the trailers forever, the glorious epic is finally here, on the big screen and I managed to watch Deniss Villeneuve's fever-dream science fiction magnum opus in its full glory in the theatres. And yes, it is magnificent, it is weird, it's frustrating but in all senses, a visually grand spectacle that is a thoughtful and thrilling movie experience.

Dune has been, by far, one of the all time favourite sci fi books. Not withstanding the countless embellishments written on top of that original trilogy or the prequels and the multiple lead-ups to the events that unfold in Dune, the first book Dune itself is book far ahead of its times and an incredibly engrossing read. So how does Deniss Villeneuve translate this complex world of shifting sands, shiftier political machinations and the emotional fracas to the big screen? 

I loved it, and I may be biased, but what the heck. 

At the centre of all the conflicts, is Paul Atriedes, heir to the Great House of Atriedes, son of Duke Leto Atriedes and his concubine, Jessica. Who among other things, is a trained Bene Gesserit Sister, an order of nuns at the centre of the sprawling space imperium, deftly manipulating strings and even gene-lines to their advantages and ulterior motives. There is jealousy between the Houses, barely contained as the Emperor ( another character in the shadows, whose motivations and emotions drive the plot forward) appoints Duke Leto to take charge of this desert planet Arrakis. Which is famous for being the only source of 'Spice' - the shimmering substance found in the sands that needs to be harvested and which allows for space travel across time and dimensions. Now this doesn't sit well with their rivals, House Harkonnen, led by the Baron and his bloodthirsty nephew Rabban. And this is the seat of the large inter-galactic war that erupts, eventually, to take control of this spice. 

But deep inside the mysterious planet of Arrakis, is yet another hidden civilisation of the desert nomads, the fremen, with their prophecies of the "Lisan Al-Ghaib", a voice from the Outer Worlds who would arrive on the planet to show them the world and lead them to safety and freedom from such capitalist tyranny. And how does Paul, the young man on the cusp of his destiny, find the truth about his own future that is closely linked to the fremen and the future of the entire galaxy, becomes the rest of the narrative. 

But be warned, right at the beginning you see the words, Dune - Part One - flashed on the screen and you know that this is just a set up. But what a sumptuous grand set up! If what is to follow can match up and outpace the first instalment, consider me a lifelong fan of Deniss Villeneuve and his visions. 

For a book long considered 'unfilmable' because of its obscure and dense themes, Villeneuve's version is a marked improvement on the previous versions, plagued by trouble and outright criticism. The script was helmed by Villeneuve himself, along with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts lend gravitas on screen by the gorgeous visuals, meant for the IMAX screening. Hans Zimmer's soundtrack brings alive the desert planet, a great mix of just plaintive laments, bagpipes, flutes and more. And for a book that boasts of so many memorable characters, the movie itself gives us a flamboyant star-studded cast, headlined by the young and immensely talented Timothee Chalamet who plays the role of the young Atriedes heir. 

A man striding two destinies, Timothee's character, like most of Villeneuve's lead stars, is mostly silent, conflicted and torn between the paths he has to choose from. A young man discovering himself in the middle of chaos and strife, Timothee is up to the job and despite the limited range he is asked to play, is effective and makes us care. Which is probably why someone like a Jason Momoa, clearly enjoying himself in the role of the Swordmaster Duncan Idaho, stands out, for just being himself, ebullient and lethal at the same time. Josh Brolin, I thought was a bit short changed playing the role of Gurney Halleck, the gruff older soldier training young Atriedes, but whose patriotic charge against the invading army goes up in fire and smoke. 

Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson play the older Duke and the mysterious Bene Gesserit Sister respectively, lending a lot of gravitas and equal amount of charm to the roles. Javier Bardiem is Stilgar, the leader of the Fremen and Zendaya, plays Chani, the destiny/ love-interest of Paul Atriedes. The shakespearean castle intrigues, the cat-and-mouse game played at level of a Space Opera and the shadowy assassins, all of these finally erupts in an explosive showdown, eerily set up by silent Emperor's killer elites descending on to the ramparts within the hallways of the duke's palace in Arrakis. 

On another note, it was gratifying to note a science fiction movie grapple with the economic aspects of politics. Because as the Baron says, it's always been about the money.  Despite the fact that it is all coloured by jealousy, ambition, greed and what not. The multiple elements that make Dune the magnum opus it is, is fleetingly touched upon. The ingenious Ornithopter - that seemed like a match between the Vietnam War Helicopters and a multi-limbed dragonfly, the Crysknife made from the tooth of a 'shai-hulud' and of course, the giant sand-worm that can scoop and gobble up the large lumbering spice-harvester  in a single gulp. Again, not enough for us to appreciate the depth. The Arab/Muslim influenced Fremen culture, I thought, wasn't really brought out so well, despite the multiple languages and dialects. 

For someone who has been dreaming of making 'Dune' ever since he was twelve years old, Deniss Villeneuve is firmly in the driver's seat of his fever-dream combining the grey wind-blown landscapes of the desert with a medieval imagery and savageness. This is Science Fiction at its visual best, and an intriguing, if not entirely rewarding, set up for a lot more goodness to come, from the stables of the smart science fiction movie master, Deniss Villeneuve. A sprawling gob-smack of scifi goodness, this is a tour-de-force of cinematic goodness. My only request would be, to just hang in there. Grab hold of the book and get your answers and come back for the sequel(s).