Dune: Denis Villeneuve’s dazzling epic finally comes to the Big screen

By Cormac McCarthy In the press tour, director Denis Villeneuve highlighted how important it is for audiences to view his new film Dune on the big screen. He was quoted as saying that “to watch Dune on a television, the best way I can compare it is to drive a speedboat in your bathtub.” So, naturally, I put it to the test and hauled a speedboat into the bathtub. After a fruitless half an hour where the upstairs bathroom lay in ruins, I relented and headed down to the Gate Cinema on North Main Street to watch the new film. Within the first ten minutes, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with Mr. Villeneuve. The Epic two and half hour long space opera boasts sweeping visuals, a bombastic Hans Zimmer score and thrilling scenes of intense action that demands to be viewed in the cinema.  Many production houses have struggled to adapt the dense, but beloved, novel to the big screen in the past. The only time it has ever arrived in full form was in 1984 when David Lynch was given the reins. However, this version left most, if not all, with disappointment. It was displeasing to both the fans of the book for not having enough of a connection to the source material and also to newcomers for not being exciting or engaging as a story. However, this adaptation leaves no disappointment. Having not read the book, I was perfectly able to follow the film without any hiccups. The screenwriters, Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts, carefully interweave the many plotlines, constructing a clear and concise narrative for the viewer. Set in the year 10191, the film concerns itself with the battle for control over a substance known as “Spice”, a mineral that can only be found on one desert-like planet. It is as the stewardship is being handed over to the House of Atreides that the film begins.Here, we see Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) as the son of Duke Atreides (Oscar Isaac) growing into adulthood and slowly learning of the inner workings of what his future role will be. Meanwhile, he is being trained by his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) in the ways of the Bene Gesserit, an ancient, female cult where women are trained in both mental and physical skillsets. Chalamet shows off why he is the film star he is at the moment. His boyish charm combined with a sense of innocence is what makes him perfect for the role. He carries the film with gusto as we see Paul slowly understanding his destiny. However, it is Ferguson who more than steals the show as Lady Jessica. The audience immediately connects with her character and you feel the intense pain and pressure that she is under. Never mawkish nor scenery-chewing, she portrays a strong heroine whose path is full of trepidation and uncertainty. Serious praise has to be given to the production design. The science fiction genre often finds itself becoming homogenous. The tropes of prophecies, space travel and the concept of kingdoms vying for control often are well trod and films often find it difficult to set themselves apart from the crowd. This is where the worldbuilding aspect of Dune comes to the forefront. It is filled with tiny intricate details, from the design of the carpets, military clothing, scripts and calligraphy, and to the everyday gadgets used by the characters. An example is when we get a glimpse of the inner workings of the spice harvesting process where the machines all have a distinct old and shoddy look, where each one has its own clear part to play. All of these aspects set the film apart from its contemporaries where everything in the film has a tangible feel. Overall, I have to give serious praise to the film in all aspects. It is not the blockbuster that we have grown to expect. It doesn’t feel the need to throw in multiple quippy jokes about pop culture, nor does it include the staple densely packed CG battle scenes where we lose track of our heroes instantly. Instead, it is a perfectly paced, thoughtful film that guides the viewer through its unique world without ever losing their interest for a second. See it now before part two rolls along in 2023Five Stars.