andy’s review published on Letterboxd:
MOVIE OF THE YEAR. A CINEMATIC MARVEL.
I don’t see how there could be something better than this releasing this year. Especially with the terrible start to 2024 we had for cinema. With the enormous hype surrounding it, with the doubts people had from the first one, with what seemed like unadaptable source material in many other attempts. It meets expectations and sures them. This is why you go to the movie theater. Run to an IMAX screen, a movie this good doesn’t happen often. Also a huge thank you to Denis for bringing major blockbuster 2 part movies back. This is way bigger than something like Mission Impossible.
“The visions are clear now. I see possible futures, all at once. Our enemies are all around us, and in so many futures they prevail. But I do see a way, there is a narrow way through.”
Unlike Paul’s fragmented and unclear visions, Denis Villeneuve clearly drank the water of life to be able to tell this story so crystal clearly. The reports were right, this really is his Empire Strikes Back, his magnum opus. The real prophecy that was fulfilled was this movie’s existence. The protagonist of our story making extremely important decisions, world altering decisions. He is tested and rises to occasion like all great fictional characters before him. The stakes feel much higher in this movie even from the opening. What more could you possibly want from this? Love, tears, drama, action, humor, twists, turns, ups, downs, questions, answers.
While the first movie carries most of the weight in world-building, Part 2 does a good job of fleshing out any lingering confusions or questions you may have. The characters are much more developed. I LOVED how Denis made Chani her own character, with a real arc. She wasn’t just paul’s love interest or another main character who ends up fading to the background, she had her own beliefs that she stood for, not wavering on them for anyone, even Paul. Her arc leaves the film off on a devastating tone. Two paths leading different ways.
Timothée does great job at portraying Paul going from humble fremen, just wanting to be apart of them and learn their ways. To this massive shift where he has to finally start believing in the prophecy and fulfill it by becoming this intense messiah, god-like figure and all the burden that comes with it. And it reminds me of the famous quote from the 2021 film, “A great man doesn’t seek to lead. He’s called to it.” I loved him as the Lisan al Gaib. He brought this energy to those scenes that I can’t really describe. He was on a path for revenge for what the Harokonnens did to his family, his house, and especially his father. Finally getting to put his knife into the Baron, the Baron at his absolute weakest as well, so perfect. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Austin Butler gives an incredible performance, one filled with power. Now while it’s unfair to compare him to Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight (as some were comparing him too), it isn’t that and it could never have been that. It’s his OWN performance and character, and he does amazing. You can go on listing the rest of the cast as well for their incredible ing performances. It reminds me very much of Oppenheimer, just an all time great ensemble cast knowing their role and what they have to sacrifice as an actor for the greater good of this movie.
I didn’t even bother to mention the scale, the look, the sound. Those things are all mainstays in IMAX pictures and this franchise alike. You know what you’re getting and it is wonderful. It completely absorbs you, I sat in the front row and it was about as immersive as could be without actually being on Arrakis itself.
I will mention a few minor things I didn’t love. While Stilgar still has his moments of strength and what we saw of him in the first movie. He is almost reduced to the butt of the joke, comic relief, Paul stan with almost no other purpose. For some reason the religion aspect, took me a bit out of it, but that’s not an indictment of the movie itself, rather the source material, but it’s like way cooler than the bible so I don’t mind it. Finally, the pacing slows down in the first half and stalls a bit. The second half kicks it up and you are in for a treat. It wasn’t an issue for me, but I could see how it can be for some.
Obviously this just came out, and it will get many rewatches, but it leaves me so hopeful for Dune Messiah.
thanks for reading :)
