'Dune' A Review

Dune (Part One) is a scifi epic based on the 1965 novel of the same name. In the far distant future Duke Leto(Oscar Issac) is assigned a new fief, sand planet Arrakis(the titular Dune), by the Empower taking over for rival Baron Harkonnen(Stellan Skarsgård), but the arrangement is not as straightforward as it seems. Leto's partner Lady Jessica(Rebecca Ferguson) a Bene Gesserit(space nun), fears the change particularly as it puts her son Paul(Timothée Chalamet), who is manifesting hidden powers of his own, into the cosmic political arena.

Chalamet is the defacto lead, although the film is in essence an ensemble, and he's servicable, he doesn't display any of his "charming" man-child quirks which is a relief but ultimately he doesn't quite have the presence to make the reserved introspection of the character particularly pop. It doesn't really matter as Dune is not a character study but a transportive visual and narrative experience. But aside from Chalamet the cast is near pitch perfect. Issac as the brooding duke, Ferguson as the powerful space nun yet vulnerable mother, Skarsgard as the repulsive rumbling heavy, Javier Bardem as a Freman leader Stilgar(particularly excellent), and on and on. A literally stem-to-stern stacked cast of solid character actors. The cast though is second to the setting and the plot in "Part One" as this is mostly set up, mostly context, mostly mood.

Not surprising coming from director/co-writer Denis Villeneuve the visuals are absolutely stunning and much care is taken with combining practical and CG effects so that the world(s) feel real, have not only visual appeal but are tactile. This is extended/bolstered by the superb costuming and the haunting extraterrestrial score.

Although, essentially, set up the film stands firmly on its own and at two and half hours never falters in its engagement. It's patient, methodical, and takes care not only with the atmosphere, the mood and tone, but with the complicated world building which is vital for any adaptation of the scifi classic. But because of the pacing it doesn't come across that way, we get all the necessary information but in a way that feels organic and much is left for us to infer about the world(s) while simultaneously inexorably moving the story forward with enough action, character, and striking imagery to keep us hooked.

A sumptuous genre feast.

Currently in theaters and on HBO Max.

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