DUNE: A Flowing Review

****/****** (4/6)

(THE PLOT)

Set in a faraway future, Denis Villeneuve's Dune is about power. What it means to have it, what you do with it, and what you don't because of it. Timothy Chalamet plays Paul Atreides, son to Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) who's family rules over the planet Caladan. The most powerful person in the Universe is the Emperor, unseen throughout the film, and this mysterious Emperor orders the Atreides to take over Spice production on Arrakis, a dangerous desert planet. Spice is the most coveted product in the galaxy with its ability to create hallucinations along with its more valuable use as something necessary for space travel, it's impossible to do so without it and it can only be found on this plant. The only reason they are getting this opportunity is that this same emperor has ordered House Harkkonen, who have become insanely rich mining this spice for over 80 years, to leave immediately. House Harkonnen is led by their military boss Beast Harkonnen (Dave Bautista) and a HUGE CGI'd Stellan Skatsgaard as King Boron Vladamir Harkonnen. The pair rule over the most wealthy and military advanced species in the universe (to our knowledge). Obviously, this all is to the chagrin of the planet's first inhabitants The Fremen, who see Spice as a sacred sacrament and material not to be distributed for wealth or gain. Let's just say the emperor has alternative motives, and that the perceived "Opportunity" to House Atreides is more so like a curse. But underneath all of this, is Paul Atreides possible destiny as not necessarily the successor to being the Duke of House Atreides and ruler of Caladan, but instead the Kwisatz Haderach (the chosen one) a person prophecy has said will come who is able to see in the past, the future, and can order people to do things through using a specific tone of voice (while also being pegged in prophecy to be the one to free the Fremen). An almighty super-being. Duh duh duh....

(INSIGHT)

Truth be told, as someone who has not engaged with the book or David Lynch's first attempt at this title, this is not an overly complicated movie. You can get lost in the planets and names and powers, but for the most part, this movie does an exceptional job at answering all the questions it asks and keeping this mega-huge galaxy of possibilities simple and to the point. Is it all crystal clear? No, rarely are movies of Sci-Fi nature, but the nuts and bolts are there to not have us wondering what the hell is going on while Denni does Denni shit and Hanz Zimmer (who scored this film, the best in his field) does Hanz shit. That is in large part due to the magnificent screenplay trio of Eric Roth (Forest Gump, Benjamin Button, A Star Is Born), Newcomer John Spaiths (Prometheus, Doctor Strange, Passengers), and director DV (His first credit as a screenwriter for any of his movies). This is modern cinema at its best, yielding movie stars, big budgets, and expertise with an ease few mega movies are able to achieve these days.

This is not a funny movie. This is not a got ya movie. This is a watch-it unfold movie. It's the type of epic that knows what it's up against, monumental themes of power and control that we've seen tested time and time again, so how do we make this story different? Well, let's give 165 million to the best living director and see what happens. What amounts is a stunning, at times breathtaking movie that lacks a signature IT factor to launch it into the Mount Rushmore of Sci-Fi films. But it's still damn fun to watch.

(MAJOR PLAYERS)

Director Dennis Villeneuve- I've seen his last 5 movies. I'd say this sits number 3 behind Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 (I don't love Sicario as much as say Chris Ryan). Arrival's brilliance was giving us a grounded, realistic "Aliens come to Earth" genre film while also delivering on one of the best stories and ENDINGS we've seen in years. Blade Runner 2049 was our first glimpse at what a futuristic DV movie could be like (It's awesome) and simultaneously grounded us in the ever-curious dynamic between man and its machines. Dune wow's with SHOTS and SOUNDS and SWORDS and SPECIAL EFFECTS, but it doesn't muster the same plot brilliance of an Arrival or the nuance that Blade Runner gave us. This is not entirely Dennis's fault, I frankly don't know how one would do so with the text DV has to work with in Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. It will be a hit though, it's already grossed over 200 million worldwide, but it won't be because it's the next Star Wars. There isn't a signature battle, no real space encounters either; this is a macro movie told in micro-moments. I wonder if he got, say 30-100 million more what this would have come to. Then I think we're talking Avatar, a movie you just HAVE TO SEE with its dazzling displays (although you could argue this film is that way now). There is a little too much of the GOT thing where, hey, it's a huge battle but here's some fog or dust so we don't have to map out the rest of the frame or have 200 extras in this shot. Understandable, but a knock nonetheless. Every second of Blade Runner felt expertly crafted and methodically thought over, I didn't feel this movie gave its frames the same attention at the rate of some of his previous work- That's not to say this is a bad or even mediocre performance from DV, but rather not a step forward beyond the unmistakable brilliance he has already given us so far. Without shame, DV is my favorite director to date and this movie does nothing to dethrone him of that title.

Timothy Chalamet- He bears the weight of this movie, dominating screentime amongst a murders row of performers. Here's the take... Timothy Chalamet is a great actor, he does a superb job with this role, but I think it's a miscast part. Not because of him, but because of who this character is supposed to be. TC is, well, not the most imposing dude, right? He is many things, an alpha male isn't one of them. And to be the chosen one, the heir to a throne, I just thought we needed a more imposing or believable hero. Now, researching the slate of possible actors who could have done this you find slim pickings, but call me crazy... Is this the perfect shot out of a cannon, fuck it big screen coming-out party for someone like Noah Centino? He has the physique and charisma to be a movie star, does he have the range this part requires? I would have loved to see him try. Tom Holland's a bit too busy being Spiderman, but he possesses the scrappiness and toughness that Chalamet lacks for this role. I think the perfect casting would have been George MacKay (1917) but that's just me. This movie does not suffer from Chalamet, and by casting him this movie is immediately watchable, but when his character easily beats the SHREDDED Babs Olusanmakun (as Jamis) in a fight to the death sequence, it's just like okay dude if Babs just gets his hands on you it's game over, and to this point, the movie had not portrayed or given us evidence that Paul was some wunderkind warrior. Chalamet is a hell of an actor, just not the one upon reflection I wanted to see in this role.

Oscar Isaac- I'll make this short. Maybe it's residue from a (I thought) brutal performance in THE CARD COUNTER, a slight over-exposure in recent years to the bevy of films and TV OI has been a part of, but again I found myself wanting someone different. The hair is great, the beard certainly plays, but I just didn't love the presence Isaac held as one of the most powerful rulers in the universe. Like Chalamet, I wanted someone more commanding. A younger Russell Crowe type, what's Eric Bana up to? I just felt as though Isaac got cast because he's the type of actor, at this moment, that gets cast in a part like this instead of the person who should. In a movie filled with movie stars, maybe this is a role we give to someone we are less familiar with who we can have somewhat of a new history to? Again, He plays the part well. Just a personal choice. If we are going with a star though can I get some Liam Neeson? What an incredible flex that would have been, the aging Duke trying to get his young son ready to take over even though he knows he's not quite ready yet. The voice?! Okay, Clive Owen would have been PERFECT. Okay, yes sorry Oscar but give me my GUY Clive O. Big losing to bigger is always more appealing than small losing to the mighty. Isaac and Timothy play as small, a McKay/Owen pairing would have been a far more interesting take on these characters, to me.

Rebecca Fergusen- As someone who has just re-casted the first two leads I feel as though I can't do it again BUT I WANT TO. No, she is great in this film too. Her story, character origin, and arc are really the only murky parts to this movie- but through her performance, we basically understand it regardless. She and the duke aren't married? Don't think so. But they had a son? There is a reference to bloodlines aligning in order to find the chosen one, is that what she has done with the Duke? An arranged... baby? This movie doesn't have nearly as much disposition as it could have, but when we do it is typically centered around her character. She plays this role with the intensity this movie needs, and while she is certainly going for it the stakes of this movie are high and her performance brings that emotion to the screen for us as an audience. Touche, RF.

Jason Mamoa- The best part of this movie for me. Perfectly cast as an expert warrior for the "good guys", he is unrecognizable vanishing into his character and this movie better than any actor in this film. He has exceptional chemistry with Chalamet, and literally brings us the only punch line of the film near its beginning. Again, he plays maybe the best fighter in the world and when you look at Jason Mamoa you think yeah who could possibly kill this guy? A part meant for him, I'm glad space, time, and destiny led to the stars alining where this could happen for Jason.

Zendaya- Besides for her initial voice-over to set the scene in the film's first 5 or so minutes, she literally does not have a line until the 2-hour mark. We see her frequently in Paul Atreides dreams, a clue that he is the chosen one being able to see ahead of time, but she doesn't have much to do outside of that. And when she does finally breakthrough, it is not as if it's her movie from then on. She will play a huge role in part II, but for part I this was more so a table-setting performance than anything worth notoriety or awards buzz for the budding movie star. But that's just it, Zendaya is a star, but not a movie star yet. Part II will help her in cementing the laters status.

Skarsgard is everything Remi Malek lacked in a true villain. Javier Bardem stops by and figures to play a much more prominent role in part II. Josh Brolin fucking Josh Brolin's the crap out of this movie, not to mention a classic I'm the older teacher teaching you how to fight and within 3 minutes you will inexplicably be better than me because I make you mad trope- works every time. Charlotte Rampling continues to dominate in her MID-70'S! Stephen Mckinley Henderson channels his DEVS energy for the big screen. Dave Bautista lands himself in yet another huge movie and does nothing but prove why he belongs in all of them.

Overall this is a great movie theatre movie but I'm not sure what its legacy will be passed that. No real breakthrough performances. No all-time battles. The climatic peak of this story will occur in its second part I'd imagine. Will this be a movie we are talking about 20-30 years from now? I sadly think we won't. I don't think there is a trademark scene, a "Holy shit I can't believe that just happened" moment. This is a movie that gives us all the answers then lets us sit back and take in the results of them. It's unnervingly consistent in that way, but maybe DV's biggest flaw as a directed is that he makes everything so good, so watchable that it's hard to disseminate what is supposed to stick out. When the Harkonnen's come back, we know they will, and it's amazing to watch what unfolds. But we've seen it before? Haven't we? A space and planet takeover? This movie did what it set out to do, we cannot shame it on that front, but what it failed in doing was bringing innovation to a genre that has become crowded in recent years. And maybe, to its credit, it's also its biggest strength. It didn't set out to be the best, it set out to re-create Dune, and it did just that.