Why “Dune” is the Movie to Get Us Back to the Theaters
Frank Herbert’s book series finally gets the proper screen treatment it deserves under visionary director Denis Villeneuve, and more importantly, should hopefully serve as a catalyst to getting us to come back to the theaters
Whenever I discuss movies or TV shows with people nowadays, the go-to initial question for when someone hasn’t seen something is usually always the same – “what streaming app is it on?”. A more than understandable one, given this trend was already catching on over the past decade with the rise of Netflix and Amazon Prime as juggernauts in the film industry. It is also one that has been heightened and accelerated over the past couple years especially, due to the coronavirus pandemic and many theaters being forced to shut down, and with streaming app HBO Max agreeing to a deal to carry a large percentage of new titles released in theaters nowadays.
As we have adapted to being at home more due to the pandemic, this has limited our desire to want to go to places like a movie theater. Especially when we can see most movies that are coming out in theaters right from the comfort of home.
However, Dune is not most movies.
When I first saw David Lynch’s film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi cult book series, I was underwhelmed. I turned the movie off in the first 40 minutes because of the crappy visual effects, the muddled storyline, and the less than stellar acting (although I still have lots of respect for Kyle MacLachlan who played the main character, Paul, in this film – Twin Peaks will forever be my jam, warts and all). Which is especially surprising considering Lynch went on to be arguably one of the greatest directors of all-time, due to his outside the box and surrealistic thinking when it came to plot designs and narratives.
Even though I turned the 1984 film off early, I was certainly impressed by the universe, overarching themes, and characters. I knew this series had potential to be “Star Wars-ian” under the right director and vision.
When I heard Villeneuve was going to remake this, I was ecstatic. Very quietly, he’s directed some of the best films of the past decade. Movies like the masterpiece Blade Runner: 2049 (which still doesn’t get anywhere near the respect or amount of people watching it that it deserves), the drug cartel bloodbath Sicario featuring a blistering, brilliant performance from Benicio del Toro (how he didn’t get nominated for an Oscar pisses me off to this day), and the fantastic and unique sci-fi drama Arrival. You could make a strong case that he is the top director working today (I think he’s a little better than Christopher Nolan, but it’s close).
So naturally, I was looking forward to Dune coming out for a long time. I watched every trailer they released leading up to it. I was especially impressed with the depth of the casting, with actors like Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, and Javier Bardem all being in this film. All heavyweight movie stars clearly sacrificing the spotlight a little in order to be part of something truly special.
Although I could have watched the movie on HBO Max, I chose to go to the theaters by myself so I could really appreciate the startling cinematography, visuals, and costume designs. And let me tell you – it was totally worth it.
The plot is certainly a little confusing, but I’ll summarize it as concisely as I can. Paul Atreides (played by Timothee Chalamet) is a member of a royal family in another universe with many planets. His father (played by Isaac) agrees to a deal to take over a planet that produces an incredibly powerful and sacred spice – making trying to harness control over the planet very dangerous and potentially deadly. Paul keeps having troubling and confusing visions of other people on the planet, perhaps events that haven’t even happened yet. And feels as though he might be destined for something truly great, even though his future feels cloudy and uncertain at the same time.
Chalamet is terrific as Paul, specifically because he brings a vulnerability to the character, but balances it nicely with a cautiously optimistic attitude for what lies in store for him. And Momoa, just like he did in Game of Thrones, steals every scene he’s in as a big brother figure and trainer of Paul’s.
The world Villeneuve presents is absorbing, rich, and always interesting. The language the characters use is purposely ambiguous most of the time in order to keep you on your toes and to form your own opinion of what this world is all about. The costume designs, settings, and characters are expertly crafted under Villeneuve’s careful and thoughtful watch, and he effortlessly draws you in with his attention to every subtle detail you could possibly think of.
I know most of us have big screen TVs and in some cases, phenomenal sound systems, but Dune is a film you should really see in theaters in order to truly appreciate everything. This is not to suggest if you see it at home it’ll be a disappointment, but from my personal experience seeing it on the big screen, I was truly in awe of it all from start to finish.
With the buzz still surrounding this movie, as well as the sequel that will follow it (already announced), I am hoping that this movie is one we look at down the line and highlight as the film that brought people back out of their houses, and back to the theaters.