I tend to go all in on one movie a year. This is that movie. Dune: Part Two will go down as the best film of 2024.

What separates Villeneuve from a lot of other filmmakers working in this era is his ability to use the technology he is given to the best of his ability as well as the technology's. What I mean by that is there are a lot of terrific filmmakers working today. They all have separate styles which is what makes each of them so wonderful. Villeneuve's style is grandiose, legendary, epic, and completely over-the-top films that are created on a scale far larger than you or I can comprehend. While filmmakers like Nolan or Chazelle operate on large scales (see Oppenheimer (2023) or Interstellar (2014) for the former, Babylon (2022) for the latter) Villeneuve commands your attention in a way that no one else could.

Denis has a knack for crafting absolutely fantastical sci-fi-scapes that seem utterly improbable and totally believable all at the same time. He was born to create sci-fi and sci-fi was born to be molded by him. We see right off the bat just how massive this movie will be as the jet troopers ascend to an area of refuge from the sandworms and the Fremen. A crushing Hans Zimmer score plays over footage of these soldiers ascending a monstrous rock. After their defeat, we are left with the Fremen wondering - alongside them - where the rest of their journey lies.

In addition to Villeneuve's ability to craft huge scenes, his ability to do some powerful, close-up visual storytelling should not go unmentioned. My mind immediately slips to a shot around halfway through. Paul is rising the Fremen ranks and following the path that will turn him into the Lisan al-Gaib. He is forced to ride a sandworm, having no prior training. He is greeted by the largest sandworm the Fremen have ever seen. I'll spare the rest of the minute details, but the shot I mean to reference is a close-up of his leg. As he attempts to gain stability on the sandworm, he goes from kneeling to squatting to standing. A flooring and overbearing Hans Zimmer plays overtop, sounding hopeful yet doomed altogether. We are shown images of the Fremen overjoyed with his prowess in sandworm riding, yet can't help but feel as if something terrible has just begun to spread. While it might seem like nothing extraordinary to some, Villeneuve pays extra close attention here, gluing you to the screen.

I do also want to touch on the music. Hans Zimmer is the John Williams of today, and I think he proves it here (if he hadn't already). The score he created for Dune: Part Two might be one of if not his best. He captures horror, hope, fantasy, and whimsy, all in one bloated expression of sound. It's as equally welcoming as it is terrifying, perfectly describing the situation our protagonist Paul Atreides finds himself in.

Timothee turns in one of the best roles of his career with this one. His ability as an actor allows you to see his character's highs, lows, and highs again. His presence on screen is powerful, he really came into his own with this one. Of course, the whole cast is excellent, but Paul Atreides is the most complex character on the screen at any given time, and Chalamet portrays him excellently.

Perhaps I will have more to say tomorrow, or when I rewatch, or perhaps I've said all I can say (although I don't see that being the case). I said it last year with Oppenheimer, do not miss your chance to see this movie in theaters. It is an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Thanks for reading all this, and if you just skimmed it, that's okay too.