DUNE: PART ONE (2021) - Movie Review

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Writer: Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth
Runtime: 2h 35 min
Rated: PG-13
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), 4K Ultra HD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

This blog is supported by its audience. When you buy through links on my blog, I may earn an affiliate commission.

Dune Part One:

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to a dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of a precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.

Review:

Frank Herbert's "Dune" is one of the greatest sci-fi novels ever written. It also gained a certain reputation as being impossible to adapt. That hasn't stopped filmmakers from trying. David Lynch gave it a shot in 1984 and the result was a wild, often puzzling epic that has since gained a cult following of sorts. Then there was the 2000 5-hour TV miniseries, which was very faithful to the source material, but the low budget and Sci-Fi (Syfy) Channel production values held it back from greatness. I've read the book, watched all the adaptations and played all the video games several times throughout the years, and I have to admit some "Dune" fatigue did begin to settle in. Denis Villeneuve's "Dune", however, proved to be a refreshing new take on Herbert's sprawling epic.

I won't even attempt to synopsize the plot, because that would turn this intentionally short review into an essay. At its core we have the quintessential hero's journey mixed with a great deal of political intrigue in a very unique sci-fi setting. To Villeneuve's credit, he does a wonderful job condensing the book's plot without relying too much on exposition dumps or drawn out scenes of dialogue. Some of Herbert's world building is absent, a necessary sacrifice to keep the story accessible to those unfamiliar with the source material. It's an incredibly difficult juggling act, but Villeneuve and co-writers Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth do a great job and deliver a narrative that is lean, clean and efficient, even though some characters don't get as much development as I would have liked.

The casting choices are superb. I had my doubts about Timothee Chalamet as Paul, but they were quickly dispelled by the young man's impressive acting chops. Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac also deliver strong performances, while Stellan Skarsgård is appropriately creepy but underused as the villainous Baron Harkonnen. Don't expect to see much of Zendaya or Javier Bardem in this one because their roles will be much expanded in "Part Two".

Visually the film aims for less flashier, minimalist designs, which give the world a sense of scale and realism. They can also also feel a bit bland, and I sometimes missed Lynch's eccentric designs. Regardless, this adaptation towers above all the rest when it comes to technical prowess, with immersive sound design, gorgeous cinematography and editing that helps set the pacing and keep the action coherent. The visual effects are pretty good, but not groundbreaking. Sometimes the CGI wasn't the best, especially when things blow up and during flight sequences. Can we please bring back miniatures ?

Then there's Hans Zimmer's score. First of all, I have to say I greatly respect both the man and his work. Which made it especially disappointing that his score for "Dune" features some of the most abrasive and obnoxious sounds I have ever heard. Aside from the lack of memorable themes and human warmth, the music constantly blares, bangs or screeches its way into the forefront of scenes, creating an irritating soundscape that substitutes originality with loudness. "Dune" deserved more complex and nuanced music, Zimmer instead opting for a disappointingly generic soundtrack that is unlistenable both in the film and on album (and believe me, I've tried).

Because it only tells half a story, "Dune: Part One" lacks a satisfying resolution. Many things throughout this movie feel like set up for Part Two, which is fine if you're doing a miniseries, but as a feature film, the lack of a traditional three-act structure doesn't work very well. It also bothered me that the emotional beats rang hollow, which is surprising from the director of films like "Arrival" and "Prisoners", and most likely a result of having to squeeze in as much of the book as possible into the movie. Unfortunately, this hinders the viewer's investment into the story and characters.

Although visually stylish and masterfully put together, "Dune: Part One" isn't completely without its issues. It's nowhere near the greatest sci-fi film ever made, but it's a competent adaptation. However, fans of the book might prefer the miniseries instead.

SCORE: 7/10