Dune: Part 1 (2021) is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Issac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Dave Bautista, Chang Chen, Stephen McKinley, and Charlotte Rampling. This film is an adaptation of the first half of Frank Herbert’s influential science fiction fantasy novel of the same name. It follows the young Paul Atreides (Chalamet), the prince of a noble family and son of Duke Leto Atreides (Issac). Since birth, Paul has been considered a man of great destiny. This, and the impeding power he is soon to inherit hang from his shoulders like a bag of lead. When the emperor decrees that House Atreides is to become the steward of a desert planet known as Arrakis, Paul and his family are thrust into a dangerous situation with politics they don’t fully understand. Although barren, Arrakis is the main source of one of the galaxies’ most sought-after resources: Spice. Spice is a powerful hallucinogenic that brings lucid visions of the future and tremendous health benefits. But most importantly, it allows the possibility of interstellar travel, making its value nearly priceless. However, Arrakis is an unforgiving place, filled with worms the size of skyscrapers that move beneath the sand and consume anything in their path. When the brutal House Harkonnen, Arrakis’ previous steward, attempts to retake control of the planet, house Atreides is forced to fight for their lives against an unexpected siege. Paul, along with the help of his friends, is called to rise to the occasion and fulfill his destiny in the process.

This is a large cast who are at the top of their game. This is even more impressive considering the fact that the world of Dune is inherently silly and fantastical. Along with his sharp and serious direction, director Denis Villeneuve is able to get the best out of his performers, resulting in performances that convey the perfect level of dramatic heft and avoid any typical sci-fi cheesiness. Timothee Chalamet, who I originally felt may have been miscast, proves me wrong. His performance isn’t earth-shatteringly good, but it perfectly conveys his journey from zero to hero. Dune is a classic example of The Hero’s Journey, showing how Science Fiction films such as Star Wars (1977) have taken inspiration from its story structure.

 Rebecca Ferguson is good as Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica Atreides, but sometimes comes across as cold. This is strange considering that she has some of the more emotional moments in the film.

 Jason Momoa is well-cast here. He doesn’t do his typical over-the-top schtick and therefore fits in perfectly. That being said, he does bring a subdued level of fun to an otherwise deadly serious film. Villeneuve gives him the tools to find the perfect balance in his performance. 

Josh Brolin is fun as a sort of nice-guy version of Thanos. He’s a hardened general and Brolin is able to provide a level of urgency to his dialogue, warning Paul about potential dangers at every turn. Brolin’s delivery is just so powerful that it sticks in my mind like glue.

 The real standout for me is actually Oscar Issac as Leto Atreides. He provides a heart and maturity to the film amid characters that are consistently uncertain or scared. He’s not a perfect man, but a man who constantly attempts to be a force for good whether he succeeds or not. When Oscar Issac takes on serious roles, that’s when he’s at his absolute best. This performance results in the relationship between Leto and Paul feeling truly authentic. By the end of the first interaction between the two, we care more about their relationship as father and son as opposed to any of the larger issues at hand. A great example of good character work being the basis of why we care. 

The remaining cast such as Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Barden, and Dave Bautista are likewise strong but don’t get a whole lot of focus/screen time. This would normally feel like an issue, but doesn’t considering that this is only the first half of Dune. Unless these characters completely disappear in the sequel, their minimal inclusion in this film should not, in hindsight, be an issue.

What works about Dune on its most basic level is its ability to drop the audience into a completely foreign world and teach them about that world by showing as opposed to telling. It feels akin to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in that sense.  Granted, there is some spoken exposition, but it’s only when absolutely necessary. Even though the exposition is handled well, there’s an absurd amount of it. It can become a bit too much even if done in a quality manner. Although consistently entertaining, the first hour of the film feels like a cycle of dropping the audience into strange situations and then slowly revealing the world through its explanation of those strange situations. It provides a sometimes fun, fish-out-of-water element, but ultimately feels like it prolongs the film. In most cases, I won’t argue for spoken exposition, but Dune could’ve used a little more of it. At the very least, just to shorten the runtime.

 This element of showing the world as opposed to telling us about it would fail if not for the film’s top-notch cinematography and visual effects. Everything looks so clear, clean, and crisp. The real locations they use truly look as if they come from a different planet. We’re able to visualize the world before we learn anything about it, akin to real life. What disappoints me slightly is that the film is bathed in a color scheme of beige and gray. Interiors are built of iron and steel while the planet of Arrakis is covered in a barren desert landscape. The visual identity is consistent, but I can’t help but feel that just a slight amount of color might’ve helped to give it a bit of flair. That being said, I think the muted colors help to strengthen the more serious tone. It actually helps to separate itself from other films in the genre.    

The film clocks in at a particularly long 2.5 hours, and even with all of its exposition, feels like it earns that runtime. Although there are a few lulls, particularly in the middle of the second act, it feels like it flies by. I think this is because, for the most part, the film doesn’t feel like it wastes time. Each scene gives us a new piece of exposition or information that feels important. It takes its time to introduce each significant character but never overdoes it. It’s almost like eating a gigantic feast and leaving at the perfect level of fullness/satisfaction.

The film is, unexpectedly, scarily intense. And this isn’t simply because of the top-notch battle sequences. It also has to do with an element of Sci-fi horror that runs through the film’s veins. Some of the designs of certain creatures/characters could have come straight out of a Hellraiser film. Not to mention, the film’s score sounds like a genre of music you’ve never heard, almost as if it comes from aliens. This is just another example of the film’s ability to make the viewer feel as if they are truly spending time on a different world. 

Much to my surprise, the film features a voiceover that actually works. I’m normally a big critic of the use of voiceover because it usually comes off as cheesy or cliche.  I think this voiceover works for two reasons: It’s not overused and it’s always paired with images that feel like they need an explanation or thematic depth. Similarly, I also find myself annoyed with the overuse of visions/dream sequences. It works here because the visions aren’t simply imaginings. It is implied that the visions are true glimpses into possible futures. This makes them feel truly meaningful in terms of future events. They aren’t just shallow diversions to trick the audience and/or pad out the runtime. 

The film mostly does a great job of balancing realism with all of its inherent sci-fi silliness, but one element that remained a bit odd was the use of “the voice.” This is a power that Paul inherits from his mother which allows him to control the actions of others with his voice by hitting a certain pitch. This is an inherently silly concept, and although Villeneuve makes it as palatable as possible, it remains a bit cheesy.

Overall, this is a top-notch sci-fi film that once again proves Denis Villeneuve is one of the best directors working today. This a well-paced film with dazzling visual effects and impressive performances across the board. The exposition is well-executed, but it throws so much at you that it can sometimes be tough to follow. It only suffers slightly from its inherent “part 1” syndrome and leads to a climax that is unconventional, but wholly satisfying. The only audiences I wouldn’t recommend this to are the ones that aren’t into this kind of slower and fantastical material. In other words, it won’t appeal to people who dislike “nerdy” films. If you’re into films about world-building and conflicts that are epic in scope, check out Dune. It’s a sci-fi experience like no other. B+