Review | Dune Part Two (2024)

“Dune Part Two is an early contender for film of the year. Visually stunning, well-acted, and perfectly directed, it is what cinema was made for. A genuine epic.”

DUNE PART ONE was something that cinema was created for. A visually stunning, well-written, expertly directed film that earned the word of epic. It came as no surprise when it earned six awards at the 94th Academy Awards. The film was a marvel, something that comes our way once in a blue moon. The care, heart, passion, and brilliance of Denis Villeneuve’s opening chapter of Frank Herbert’s novel blew everyone away. It depicted the fall of House Atreides and the start of Paul Atreides’ rise to power. And it built the world from the book and brought it to audiences in a way that we rarely see.

It was always a given that the concluding part would be greenlit. And so, we now get ready to experience DUNE PART TWO. The film takes the second half of the novel to conclude the first part of Paul Atreides’s journey. With Timothée Chalamet returning as Paul, alongside Zendaya as Chani (in a more substantial role this time) and the remainder of the cast who survived the first chapter, the film has a lot to show and cover. But can the film match or exceed the superb first part, or should it have been left under the Arrakis sand?

THOUGHTS

There is little doubt about it, Dune Part Two takes the term of epic and surpasses it. The film is something that needs to be experienced on the biggest screen possible. It isn’t good enough to just sit and watch it, it needs to be felt, to be allowed to astound us. It is an experience the likes of us may never see again on a cinema screen. A visual feast for the eyes, an assault on the senses. The colors we see here are so brilliant, so vibrant that we can feel ourselves actually standing on the sands of Arrakis. The landscapes we see, we can believe we are watching from the heights. The saturation and contrast between different worlds don’t take us out of the film, instead, they make us sit up and concentrate more than ever.

Throw in some truly superb, heartfelt acting, a score that fits the film perfectly, and a desire to dazzle and astound the audience, and you have a film that is what cinema was made for. The way Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts have taken the source material and crafted something of this magnitude is incredible. Epic doesn’t do the film justice. This is a mammoth undertaking, creating both parts and movies to honor the source material. But Villeneuve has pulled it off with ease. Already an acclaimed director with award nominations under his belt, Villeneuve here delivers a film that is bound for Oscar glory next year. And I will be shocked if he doesn’t take home the best director prize during next year’s awards season.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET AND ZENDAYA

The film wouldn’t be as good as it is without the performances of the two leads. But we shouldn’t fear as both turn in incredible performances. Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, the exiled Duke of House Atreides, who is called “Muad’Dib” by the Fremen gives possibly his best-ever screen performance here. From the moment we see him again for the first time in the film, he has us hooked on his every word, his every action. The emotional gravitas Chalamet brings to his turn as Paul is the main heart of the film, and keeps everything together. At no time do we ever feel threatened or bored by him, he has us held in rapt attention from the outset. His journey from Duke’s son to leader of the Fremen is followed and completed to superb effect. Again, awards recognition could and should be Chalamet’s future.

Zendaya has us falling in love with her from the start. Fans of the book already know the journey her character of Chani will go on and through. And Zendaya does it in an effortless performance. Looking slightly vulnerable one moment, toughened warrior the next, she glides through the film like she is sliding on glass. It is striking how easily she deals with what is expected of her. And this isn’t a token female role, this is one where she needs to put her heart and soul into it. Zendaya is a terrific actress and she shows her entire range here. It is outstanding for someone so young, and she deserves every plaudit that comes her way.

REBECCA FERGUSON AND JOSH BROLIN

Rebecca Ferguson returns again as Paul’s Bene Gesserit mother, Lady Jessica. And she, as much as Chalamet has the crux of the story to go through here. Jessica has to transition from widow, mother, and fugitive to Reverand Mother. We follow her journey through these changes with eagerness and nervousness as she transitions from who she was to who she was destined to be. Rebecca Ferguson is an outstanding actress and she delivers here in a performance that comes through as natural, flawless, and award-worthy. We can see her fear for Paul from the start. We also witness her fear of her son as he treads his path towards leading the Fremen. Paul doesn’t mean to scare his mother, but in one scene, we witness the power he holds that sends shivers down our spines.

Josh Brolin returns as Gurney Halleck, the former military leader of House Atreides and Paul’s mentor. And in doing so, delivers us something that we always knew we would see. Brolin too is outstanding. Reduced to being a smuggler after the events of the first film, Gurney once more meets Paul in the desert during a Fremen attack on him and his fellow smugglers. The pair make for yet another excellent partnership as soon as they meet up again.

And Gurney is loyal to Paul, protecting him when he needs to, mentoring him at other times. It also helps that Gurney is a fierce warrior, someone who will give his life to save his Duke and young friend. Brolin takes the character and makes it so that no other actor can be seen as Gurney again. The role is forever his in our minds. And we marvel at his willingness to submerge himself into his role.

STELLAN SKARGARD AND CHARLOTTE RAMPLING

Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen once again gives us a slimy, villainous performance. And by doing so, has us sitting revolted in our seats. The Baron is up to his tricks again, plotting to make sure his grip on Arrakis is strengthened with such an iron fist, that he will squeeze every last grain of spice from it. He will do what is necessary and the Fremen be damned. He wants them exterminated from the face of the universe and he will get his way, by any means needed. Everyone knows that Skarsgard can play a villain in his sleep but if he gives it his all, he is as fearsome and as scary as can be. He does that here. Cementing his legacy is the Baron’s ultimate aim, his grip on power his overriding desire. And Skarsgard delivers a powerhouse of a villainous performance.

Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother and the Emperor’s Truthsayer returns in the same capacity as the first film. But that doesn’t diminish her performance. When the truth is finally revealed regarding the fall of House Atreides, Gaius takes it all in her stride. Her coldness and admittance of the truth are shocking and disturbing. There is no emotion from her, just pure dismissiveness. Charlotte Rampling is an actress whom younger audience members may not be familiar with alongside her body of work. For someone like me, who has followed her career since the 1970s, she is truly an acting legend. And she once again produces something wonderous, despite the limited time she has on screen.

DAVE BAUTISTA

Dave Bautista returns as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen. And he cements his place among the elite. Forget his wrestling days, he is a revelation. Of course, he is brutish, murdering underlings if they fail him, completely unemotional at the death he causes. But we also see a side to him we don’t expect. Cowardice. For someone who prides himself on death, destruction, and ruthlessness, Rabban shows a yellow streak during proceedings that we wouldn’t expect. Bautista is powerful when he is on screen, but his screen time is limited. But when he is on screen, we tremble at him. Bautista is making a name for himself and does a wonderful job here.

AUSTIN BUTLER

Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the Baron’s youngest nephew and planned successor does an incredible job. The character plays a large part in the second half of the film, but once he appears, we are hooked. His introduction isn’t colorful at all. In fact, it is almost a black-and-white segment within the film. The colors have all been almost completely bleached out, giving the sequence a noir-type hue. Feyd is a violent, psychopathic character who smiles to your face while thrusting the knife into your belly.

The way he despatches several of his uncle’s own men by slitting their throats, whether they deserve it or not adds to the evilness of the character. But deep inside, he has a grudging respect for some of those he kills. His introduction for one demonstrates this, as he whispers some soothing words to someone he has stabbed and is dying in his arms. Butler gives a scary, violent, but incredible performance as Feyd. His manner of speaking, in the same vein as how Skarsgard delivers his dialogue, is impressive as well as frightening. Butler makes Feyd a memorable character throughout his time on screen.

JAVIER BARDEM

Javier Bardem delivers a sure-fire Oscar-nominated performance as Stilgar. From the second he reappears, we are in safe hands. Bardem has us riveted to our seats in every scene he appears in. And, in a surprise turn of events, delivers most of the humor the film contains. It isn’t forced, it is genuine laughs to be had. Bardem embraces the role, his dialogue, and everything the film contains and gives us something we will take home with us once the film has ended. Virtually every performance is extremely memorable but Bardem’s stands out above the rest.

Stilgar’s belief that Paul is the prophet that legend has foretold is the source of many laughs along the way. Most of the other Fremen don’t believe in Paul, Stilgar does. They say disparaging things about Paul, and Stilgar praises him. But when it comes to the action, Bardem isn’t found wanting. He stands his ground with the best of them. For all the times we think Stilgar is a little bit soft, he shows and proves he is anything but. Bardem is the standout amongst a whole cast of standouts. That is a mean feat in itself. One cast member gives an incredible performance, and Javier Bardem will top it. He is flawless.

OTHER CAST MEMBERS

Some of the new cast members suffer from a lack of screen time. Christopher Walken as Shaddam IV, Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring, and Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan all feature on the poster for the film. But with the exception of Florence Pugh, their screen time is limited. Léa Seydoux gets around four minutes on the screen. Her role is important in the future, but here, she appears and then vanishes for the remainder of the film. Walken too appears for around ten minutes in fleeting appearances here and there before he comes into play in the film’s climax.

Florence Pugh, though, is the most vital cog in the machine. Although she doesn’t get much to do, fans will know going forward the vital part she will play. Her role will be expanded if Denis Villeneuve gets his wish and gets to make Dune: Messiah and complete his trilogy. But despite their relative lack of screen time, all three are welcome additions to the cast and do raise the film up with their appearances. And do watch out for an uncredited cameo around halfway through.

THE SCORE

The score for the movie is by Hans Zimmer. And it is purely delightful. To accompany a film such as this, you need a score to match. An epic score, fitting the scale of the film, the perfect fit between image and music. And Zimmer has accomplished it. It is, pure and simple, possibly one of the finest scores he has ever created. Not one note is off, and not one piece feels out of place. It is a work of genius. Over the past few years, I have been critical of Zimmer’s later works. This is a return to form, a throwback to his classic earlier scores. Something I’m looking forward to adding to my music library.

DENIS VILLENEUVE

Denis Villeneuve has to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the great directors. Kubrick, Lean, Hitchcock, Coppola, Leone, Jackson, Spielberg, Welles, and Capra to name a few. Villeneuve has done more than enough here to join that illustrious list. He has crafted something here that is almost a throwback to the heyday of the epic movies we saw in 70mm over 50 years ago or more. Big in scale, perfectly cast, perfectly executed, excellently directed and shot, every box that applies to the epic movie is ticked off here. In fact, they are not just ticked off, they are torn apart and a new higher standard is applied.

The French-Canadian director has achieved the impossible. He has delivered something that will not only be a success but be spoken about for years to come. Some people may say that his two Dune movies are this generation’s ‘Lord Of The Rings.’ And they wouldn’t be far wrong in saying that. Both are directed to a standard that puts other ‘big movies’ to shame. Both are epic in nature and based on classic novels. But both are delivered with love, respect, reverence, and screenwriting that is rare to discover these days. They fill the screen from corner to corner, never allowing our eyes to be taken off what is on show. Villeneuve has proved he is a master here and deserves all the love, praise, and hopefully awards that will be flooding his way.

VERDICT

Dune Part Two is an early contender for film of the year. Visually stunning, well-acted, and perfectly directed, it is what cinema was made for. A genuine epic that demands to be seen on the big screen. If Villeneuve gets to make the second novel, Dune: Messiah, and completes his trilogy, he will face an almost impossible task to top this. This is one of the best science fiction films ever made. And we can’t say that lightly. This isn’t Star Wars, Star Trek, or Alien. This is science fiction for the grown-ups, a tale with religious undertones that forces us to watch. To think. And to understand what we are seeing. It isn’t always easy, but it is so rewarding.

Fans of Frank Herbert’s novels will know where the story will go from here in the second book. We have witnessed the fall and rise of Paul Atreides. Now, if it comes to pass, we will get to see what occurs to these characters. The film certainly deserves to get a concluding movie. The second book is shorter than the original novel but has enough story to make a satisfying conclusion. But that is for the future. What we have been given is something that happens once in a generation. A visual spectacle that will transcend through the generations. A piece of filmmaking that will take your breath away. Denis Villeneuve, take your bows now. For this truly is, without a doubt, your finest hour. A masterpiece.

Dune Part Two will be in cinemas on March 1st, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Carl Roberts

Future of the Force News Editor, Liverpool F.C fan, Halloween Movie Fan, Friday The 13th movies fan, Star Wars Fan, Star Trek Fan.