Dune: Part 2 is the next chapter in the Dune saga as filmmaker Denis Villeneuve brings his vision of the Frank Herbert novel to the screen.
To borrow a line from Anakin Skywalker: “I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.”
It’s such a classic line and comes to mind upon seeing a Dune movie on the big screen. Arrakis is a sand planet so I’m not going to miss an opportunity to use the line. That being said, I wonder if Academy voters will remember this film during awards season. Or awards voters in general. It’s one thing for a January film festival selection to stay with you but those films generally get a release a few months later. That’s not the case here. Granted, Black Panther earned a Best Picture nomination but Marvel also did a major push for it. Will Dune: Part 2 at least get the same love in categories such as sound? We’ll just have to wait and see.
I need to talk about something. How is it that nobody in this film ever complains about the sand getting everywhere? You’d think someone would have to clean out their shoes or something due to the sand! Oh, well. I digress.
I have more to say about the film below the picture. If you wish to go into the film without knowing anything about it, this is where you should stop reading until after you see the film.
Audiences reunite with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), Chani (Zendaya), Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Stilgar (Javier Bardem), and the Fremen as Villeneuve takes us on the second part of Paul’s journey. Their journeys are different and there are certainly disagreements. Regardless, Paul is dead set on getting revenge against the Harkonnen for his father’s death. He just won’t do it at any cost. He sees visions of the future and they impact his every move. It’s only once Paul sees the bigger picture that he knows what he must do. After all, the inevitable Dune: Part 3 depends on what Paul decides to do. Yes, this film ends on a cliff-hanger. As for who will survive long enough to be in the next sequel, you’ll just have to wait and see.
Villeneuve reteams with a number of Oscar winners on his team. This certainly isn’t surprising. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? I fully expect many of them to repeat as Oscar nominees for their work. The film is every bit as epic as the first film although its 2 hour, 46 minute run time feels every minute of it. In fairness, the press screening was at 11 AM and there was at least one restroom break. Lunchtime screenings can do that but keep that in mind when it comes to beverages. Anyway, there’s more action and visuals. It really feels bigger in every way.
Dune: Part 2 is an epic experience on the big screen.
DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve
SCREENWRITERS: Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts
CAST: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, with Stellan Skarsgård, with Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem
Warner Bros. will release Dune: Part 2 in theaters on March 1, 2024. Grade: 4.5/5
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