Reel Review Roundup

Dune (M)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Issac

Review by: Julian Wright

Frank Herbert’s book gets megabucks thrown behind it for a brand new big screen adaptation in the hands of highly acclaimed director Denis Villeneauve.

There is a lot to take in in this epic, two and a half hour journey that is one of two parts, but the basic set up is that Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamat) is the heir of House Atreides that has become ruler of Arrakis, a desert planet that has a precious and highly powerful resource: spice.

While the tone and pace is 100 per cent Villeneuve (see the long, slow, tension filled build of Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival), Dune somehow does not reach the great heights of his past efforts.

The long stretches feel longer and sometime border on tedium, and the understated performances from an appealing cast feel less engaging.

But he sure knows how to create an epic landscape, build astonishing worlds and keep us in awe with his imaginative visual.

This really is a film made for the big screen and one should do their best to catch it at a cinema before Part Two arrives next year.

Perhaps take a shot of espresso beforehand to get you through the quieter moments.

This entry was posted on December 10, 2021 at 3:06 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.