The first film was a beautiful translation of the first half of the book. It was a whole lot of setup that was handled with a whole lot of care, mostly driven by strong performances and breathtaking visual presentation. Dune Part Two benefits from the fact that it’s no longer concerned with introducing the rules of the world and the people who live in it. Much like what happens in the latter half of the source material, Part Two goes off the rails with some of the wildest ideas and concepts you will ever see in a sci-fi epic. And Denis Villeneuve shows exactly why he is up there in the pantheon of the greatest directors to ever touch the medium. This Dune Part Two review comes from someone who has recently fallen in love with all the complexities found in Frank Herbert’s masterpiece and how it’s masterfully realized to be seen on the biggest screen.
For the longest time, Dune was deemed to be “unfilmable” due to how dense its narrative elements are. There have been attempts before, such as the 1984 film and a two-part miniseries back in the 2000s, all of which have their own merits and have proven to be cult classics, but still doesn’t do the books the proper justice they deserve. Denis Villeneuve did the seemingly impossible with 2021’s Dune Part One and is now coming back to complete the first book’s story with Dune Part Two. I can confidently say that this a true cinematic event of the decade and what an absolute thrill it is to be a part of it.
Turn up the spice
Political unrest, religious fanaticism, lust for power, and false prophets are just some of the few ideologies being tackled in Herbet’s Dune. What’s more impressive is how he has managed to handle all of these in such a deliberate way, all while framing it altogether with an epic sci-fi setting. The central concept of the world of Dune revolves around the universe banning the use of computers and so they rely on individuals who get high off of spice to reach a higher level of brain functionality. Sounds weird? Absolutely. Does it all somehow work? Most definitely. And that’s barely scratching the surface of what really goes on in the pages.
Dune Part Two makes the first film feel like a tutorial level in a video game. It’s bigger in scale which means more action, drama, and a surprising amount of humor sprinkled here and there. This is a jampacked 2 hours and 46 minutes of world class filmmaking and performances. It begins directly where the first film ended. Paul and Lady Jessica are now with the Fremen and will have to continue their journey learning the ways of the dessert. And that’s about as far as I will go in terms of discussing the story. If you’ve read the book and know what happens, Dune Part Two is an astonishing film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s work. What minor deviations it has from the source material, is all in the benefit of the film’s pacing and cinematic experience. If you’re someone who’s going into this completely blind, what a privilege it would be to witness all the twists and turns for the very first time. However way you go about watching, Dune Part Two is a special time to be had in the theaters.
Much like how Villeneuve steps up every facet of his game here, so does the cast. Timothée Chalamet is a powerhouse. The script requires a lot of internal conflict within Paul as he has to carry the burden of being considered a Messiah for an entire planet all while dealing with the doubt, undying support, and everything in between, whether he likes it or not. It’s a lot to take in and a whole lot more to convey it on screen and Chalamet gradually evolves the character with every scene he’s in. By the third act, I was fully immersed in what he had to offer, and he does not disappoint.
Zendaya’s Chani gets a lot more to work with here as she becomes a primary character alongside Paul. Much like her co-star, she is a commanding presence. What impressed me the most is how in the midst of a grand epic, it’s in the small, quiet moments where Zendaya elevates her scenes with subtle facial expressions that say a whole lot more than words ever could. I fully bought into the relationship of Chani and Paul. The same could be said for Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica. Her eyes alone are equal parts haunting and mesmerizing. The intimacy between the camera and the facial performances here are striking to say the least.
The best surprise for me was Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, who was an enjoyable presence in the first film, but completely steals the show here in the sequel. His deadpan delivery of his lines is the primary source of lighthearted content that never feels forced or out of place. His relationship with Paul becomes one of the many highlights the film has to offer.
And of course, Austin Butler as Feyd was about as memorable as you’d expect. Even though I believe he was a bit underutilized, whatever moments he had, he fully owned every single one. You can tell that Butler enjoyed every single second of being evil here and it bleeds onto the screen with flying colors.
Everyone in the cast deserves their own shout. There is not a single bad performance here in Dune Part Two.
And it goes without saying, this is a Denis Villeneuve project after all, the technical aspect of the film is a masterclass in every sense of the word. Greig Fraiser is once again, in a league of his own here, framing everything so incredibly well, giving the action, the settings, and the characters, even more depth that I truly believe no other cinematographer could. The lighting, scene blocking, and imagery being done here was mesmerizing all throughout. It became so evident to the point that I made it a mental game within myself to try and find a bad shot halfway through the film. I didn’t. It was basically impossible.
Hans Zimmer’s score. That in it of itself should be enough to say how incredible it all is here. Every beat hits at exactly the right moment, carrying the exact emotion it needs to communicate. The music of the film is a character in it of itself. It’s what makes the world of Dune so tangible from an auditory perspective.
Dune Part Two is the type of film that proves exactly why the cinema exists. See it on the biggest screen you can.