Directed by Dennis Villeneuve
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, and Charlotte Rampling.

If it wasn’t official before, it certainly is now. Director Dennis Villeneuve never, or at least rarely, makes a film that is sub-excellent. Dune: Part Two is no exception to that statement.

Before we discuss the sequel to the two-part adaption of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, an important note to make before watching Dune: Part Two is you will greatly benefit from a refresher of Dune (2021) before attending a session of this on the largest screen you can get to. My refresher consisted of a high-level overview of essentials points kindly shared by my better half mere minutes before the screening we attended! Though greater detail would undoubtedly have been useful, as the opening 30-45 minutes of Dune: Part Two’s plot were a struggle to grasp, it certainly helped overall and by the end of what is another imposing and epic experience.

Now, if you have not seen Dune (2021) and wish to, please do not read on, as the next paragraph will reveal details that are necessary to provide a summary of the plot to review part two.

By the end of Dune (2021), The Harkonnen, led by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) seized back control of desert planet Arrakis, home to its precious commodity, known as Spice. Now, they are plotting their quest to maintain control of Arrakis, which will require the involvement of a few new characters to part two – namely, The Emperor (Christopher Walken), his daughter (Florence Pugh), and a Reverend Mother, who is also the emperor’s trusty sidekick (Charlotte Rampling). In fact, The Harkonnen are not alone in needing The Emperor. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), aka Muad’Dib as the Fremen prefer to call him, is also seeking out for The Emperor, but before he will reach him, Paul forms an alliance of sorts with Stilgar (Javier Bardem), leader of the Fremen tribe. As Paul’s family, which includes his mother (Rebecca Ferguson), have been battling The Harkonnen for centuries, Stilgar wishes to utilise their experience and Paul’s fighting skills in preparation for war against The Harkonnen in exchange for teaching him the ways of his people and how to survive in Arrakis. Oh, and not to mention, Stilgar also believes Muad’Dib is a prophet and Chani’s (Zendaya) borderline trust of Paul begins to develop into something more.

As you can appreciate, there is plenty happening to justify the near 3-hour run time of Dune: Part Two and HOW ABOUT THIS ENSEMBLE CAST!! Wow. 

I cannot imagine Dune being produced any way other than the two parts totalling 321 minutes it is. Admittedly, I’ve seen each part just once, but believe every scene to make Villeneuve’s final cut needs to be there and these films never felt slow. I will also add that despite being so prosperous in plot and its details complex for many, the screenplay is so impeccably comprehensible. Every character has ample screen time to clearly assert their agenda and have a profound impact on proceedings, irrespective of how major or minor a role they play. I just shared my excitement at the brilliant casting yet haven’t even mentioned Austin Butler (best known for playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis). He very effectively plays a new villainous character in Dune: Part Two who adds plenty of excitement to the second half of the film. Surprisingly, the same can’t be said for Dave Bautista. Playing the nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, this type of role is ordinarily his bread and butter, but Bautista butchers his Harkonnen character. That is the worst that can be said of this quality production though. It goes without saying but nonetheless is utterly deserving of a mention, Dune: Part Two is equally visually mesmerising as part one and boasts outstanding production values and sound too. The sheer cinematic presence and effect Dune: Part Two regularly emits is akin to the iconic detonation sequence in this year’s Oscar frontrunner, Oppenheimer. 

Dennis Villeneuve has expressed interest in making a third film based on the second novel in the series. The possibility of that depends on the success of this chapter. I, for one, would love to see more Dune in the hands of Dennis in our universe and am confident you will too. 

Dune: Part Two is showing in cinemas across Australia from February 29th.

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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