Written by: Denis Villeneuve & Jon Spaihts
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh
Rating: [5/5]
Achieving one’s destiny often gets this positive connotation, as it entails an individual reaching a goal that they have long sought after. Reaching it therefore gets met with an elation, in part because of the arduous path to get there. Dune: Part Two has its characters barrelling towards destiny, yet it gets met with a sense of dread and fear as external forces dig their claws into the inevitable path that lies before each of them. This feeling of dread never escapes, never relents, and in conjunction with all else this film reckons with demonstrates what makes this a science-fiction masterwork.
Now living amongst the Fremen, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) must prove himself to stay amongst them long-term as he seeks to enact revenge on the Harkonnens. While learning the ways of the Fremen and succeeding, grumbling begins to increase of him potentially being this messianic figure that has long been prophesied. Neither a title nor supposed honor Paul seeks to possess.
Following the betrayal of the Atreides by the Harkonnens and Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) nearly obliterating the whole house, just Paul and his mother Lady Jessica remain. The table now gets reset with this mutually beneficial relationship between Paul and the Fremen where the former gets the opportunity to avenge the lives of his people and the latter get another useful member to take out the invaders of their lands. Not an easy road to start for Paul as he needs to prove himself before receiving full acceptance but one with trials that displays the training he has received has served him well. Not only does it assist in his integration with these people, but it further establishes the beautiful relationship Paul builds with Chani (Zendaya).
Having fairly minimal screen time in the first Dune, anyone who knows the story knew Chani would get much more to do in this feature that would give Zendaya the opportunity to shine and she massively delivered here. The budding friendship and then romance that brews between Chani and Paul carries this beauty as they learn more about each other’s customs and know that beyond all they have this connection that nothing can throw asunder. A level of care that becomes all the more important as the story continues to progress and what they have gets challenged by the larger themes and ideas this feature battles with.
At its core, as much as this story has built this reputation of being strange and dense to parse through, it lays out its themes very clearly and Denis Villeneuve ensured not to miss on any of it. As Paul continues to grow in esteem amongst the Fremen, the more he seemingly begins to fit the description of this messianic figure called the Lisan al Gaib. Taking on this role certainly comes with its advantages for Paul, given he could have one of the most ruthless and lethal forces in the Fremen follow him into battle and get the revenge he so desperately wants. However, with the visions he has, he knows what could happen if he fully plays along with taking on this title and the horrors that come with it. Therefore, we have Paul continually trying to push away from this role he does not want to hold but this tragic inevitability never ceases to hang over him as if he cannot escape this dreaded destiny set before him. After all, none of this came together organically, which gets into the more cynical and practical aspects this film features when it comes to religious fanaticism in addition to those fanning those flames for their own desires.
As we have learned throughout this overarching narrative, the Bene Gesserit, who Lady Jessica belongs to, have planted the seeds amongst many groups of this messianic figure that will lead their people to paradise. They have set the stage for someone of their choosing to take on this mantle and rise in a way they can utilize for the means of control they wish to unleash. It’s what makes the Lisan al Gaib and Kwisatz Haderach so similar in the roles they serve, which all leads to Paul and how he ultimately fits into the story. How religion gets utilized to control both unintentionally and very consciously says plenty about the characters involved. We have someone like Lady Jessica who seeks to push Paul, her son, as the messiah and another Atreides survivor who pleads with the young Duke of House Atreides to utilize this to their advantage. They want to utilize it for their own means with no care for the people it truly impacts, but then we have how it operates within the Fremen themselves.
A clear divide quickly appears amongst the vast majority like Stilgar (Javier Bardem), who feel they have finally received the person they have prayed for now and then those who see it all as nonsense like Chani. As serious as this larger push and pull presents itself narratively, it was heartening to watch the little injections of humor, especially with Stilgar in the moments where he fully begins to believe in Paul as the Lisan al Gaib. His little justifications and reactions to everything transpiring makes Stilgar such a funny character throughout this film, but also one incredibly ardent in his beliefs to truly display this religious fanaticism to the extreme. On the other side, Chani not only has to battle seeing her people slip into this game of religion used as a tool for control, but also fearing what happens to Paul if he fully steps into what it means to be the Lisan al Gaib. A Fremen woman wears blue for a reason, and the love she builds for Paul in the first act of this film truly cements what makes her character such a revelation in comparison to how Chani gets characterized in the novel. Without a doubt a tremendous upgrade.
As much as I can go on and on about the thematic battles happening in this feature, it would not be a Villeneuve science-fiction epic without lauding the technical elements on display. Many of the same players returned from the first film and boy did they bring their A-game once again. Greig Fraser with his cinematography somehow upgraded on what he did before as he creates some jaw-dropping visuals. Certain scenes remain embedded into my brain not only because of the narrative meaning behind them but how he decides to light them. Everything he displays in the throne room scene alone should solidify this man the same Academy Award he won for the first film but then there are the scenes on Giedi Prime that starkly contrast everything else and displays Frasier simply showing off at this point. Then we have the sound team, who help engross us in this world and very loud booms in the guerrilla warfare transpiring as Paul aligns himself with the Fremen. From highlighting the sounds of Shai Hulud approaching or the explosions, the sound work certainly did not disappoint. Additionally, one cannot praise the technical elements without lauding the ever-brilliant Hans Zimmer, who creates a melody I have not stopped listening to since my first viewing of this film. “A Time of Quiet Between the Storms,” remains one of the most beautiful love melodies I have ever heard in film, which further accentuates the budding feelings between Paul and Chani. This whole production proves to be a technical feat when also encompassing the impeccable production design and visual effects as well further solidifying what makes these talented artists so exceptional at what they do.
With so many characters to juggle, especially the new ones added into the narrative such as Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), Emperor Shaddam IV, and Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux) each of them had their shining moments. Seydoux has one scene on Geidi Prime and displays what makes her a remarkable actor. Pugh had the Zendaya treatment where she gets some scenes but mostly builds for a bigger role in the next film, but plenty of praise must get heaped on Christopher Walken. When this man decides to sleepwalk through a nothing role, he can certainly do that. However, Villeneuve, in the few scenes Walken has, gets the best we have seen from the seasoned actor in some while. His delivery of a particular exchange with words he shares with Paul towards the end was worth the price of admission alone. With all that said, the most memorable supporting performance came from Austin Butler in his unforgettable portrayal of Feyd-Rautha. Demented, sadistic, and eerily funny, Butler displays what makes this character incredibly alluring as well as terrifying in the way he gallivants around in this story. Set up as the antithesis of Paul and funnily enough if not for Lady Jessica’s meddling, the one meant to marry him, we build up to the showdown they will have expertly well. Butler had so much fun in this film and we are certainly thankful for it.
Acknowledging all that has been written above, this feature undoubtedly belongs to Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Denis Villeneuve, the director. A match made in heaven, putting together two supremely talented individuals working at the top of their game. Chalamet has always dominated in dramas and in smaller films, but with his performance as Paul, he fully steps into movie star mode as he puts on such a commanding presence. Operating in different areas as both the Duke of House Atreides and then the Lisan al Gaib, Chalamet reaches a different level of gravitas here and he gets helped along massively by Denis Villeneuve. I mean, what left is there to say for how much I appreciate and adore the way this man makes films. He did what many deemed impossible and brought Frank Herbert’s vision to the big screen in unimaginable ways. He creates a science-fiction epic like no other and manages to sharpen the themes and give characters like Chani much more agency, which in turn makes the story all the more tragic and intriguing to experience.
Truly one of one in its craft, narrative complexity, and entertainment, Dune: Part Two has everything I love about film wrapped into an excellent piece of cinema. While it does not surpass Arrival for me just yet in Denis Villeneuve’s filmography, this film represents a success on all levels. It combines some of the greatest talent in Hollywood to tell this overarching story that exemplifies the very best this genre and fictional narratives have to offer across the board. I find it hard to believe there will be another film this decade that surpasses it in my estimations.
Films with Josh 
