From Joe Peltzer

It’s clear when watching certain films that the director just clicks with the material, their vision clearly displayed on the big screen as the story unravels for the audience. Dune: Part Two is such a film for Denis Villeneuve, building upon the foundation of 2021’s Dune in an expansive masterclass in stunning visuals, gritty action, memorable storytelling, and pitch perfect performances.

Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) continues to live among the Fremen as he grows closer to Chani (Zendaya) while honing his skills, journeying towards his destiny as the prophetic leader many feels he was born to be seeking revenge against those who brought down his family. The second part of Villeneuve’s retelling of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel “Dune” takes the training wheels off and expands the story first introduced in Part One: more players, more locations, more stakes. Chalamet takes his character and powerfully portrays a somewhat reluctant leader torn between love and the future he foresees. This is the most comfortable I have seen him in a role, one that requires a breadth of styles from quiet and reserved to loud and controlling, throwing in a ton of action, as well. He absolutely brings the heart of the story’s conflict to life and keeps it front and center from beginning to end.

Zendaya continues to be a force, here given much more to contribute than in Part One, almost playing an emotional balance for Chalamet’s Paul throughout. It’s not always what she’s saying that has the impact, but how her face unveils her underlying feelings and emotions with unquestionable clarity. Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica Atreides) is both mysterious and menacing while other returning players like Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård revive their characters with continued top notch portrayals. The true surprise here, though, is Javier Bardem as Stilgar, a believer in Paul and leader to the Fremen. Given much more screen time to work with here, Bardem stuns with an Oscar-worthy performance filled with a mix of action, humor, and emotion, never once wavering. 

The newcomers to the film are also welcome additions with Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan Corrino) solid with a limited role aside Christopher Walken (Emperor Shaddam IV), who never fails to deliver. It’s Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha who steals the show, however, with a tantalizingly devilish performance as a violent madman who is rather skilled with knives. Not only does he look great, he delivers in each and every fight sequence, especially one with Chalamet that is sure to go down as one of the best in recent memory (and probably will win that popcorn statue at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for best fight).

Performances aside, the technical aspects of Dune: Part Two are rather impressive. Each and every detail, from the sand blowing in the wind to the explosions during battle, are visually presented in flawless fashion upon set design and costuming that is instantly transportive. The battle scenes are some of the best in years with flashes of Gladiator, 300, and The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers’ “Battle of Helm’s Deep” coming to mind. It’s all a chill-inducing spectacle that rides phenomenal performances and infectiously complementary Hans Zimmer score. On top of that, sound design in general is mesmerizing, especially in scenes involving the sand worms (such as when Chalamet’s Paul seeks to tame one). Because of all of this, Dune: Part Two begs, nay, deserves to be seen on the big screen.

The scripting is where things faltered slightly for me. For every batch of scenes that move the story forward there is one that frustratingly slows the film’s pace. This leads to odd choices in some of the larger moments that feel rushed; a familial reveal is quickly mentioned and moved on from, for example, removing the gravity of the moment, while the ending to fight between Paul and Feyd-Rautha could have used more attention. There’s still something inherently flawed in the pacing of the source material itself that is hard to overcome while staying true to it. It’s a testament to Villeneuve that he can somehow overcome these potential pitfalls and still leave you wanting more. 

Dune: Part Two is not a perfect movie, but it is damn near close. One thing is absolutely sure: this is Villeneuve’s best of his career. The campaign to get him back for Dune Messiah starts now.

Rating: 4.5/5

Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 1st, 2024.

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