The Dune series of novels, by Frank Herbert, is a saga for the ages. Spanning over 20 novels, 6 of which were written by Herbert between 1965 and 1985. (Later his son, Brian, and Kevin J Anderson continued the story from notes Herbert left behind.) It covers centuries of conflict. It tells a cosmos spanning saga of great houses vying for control of the Spice, and with it, the universe. Herbert’s books go into intricate details of every aspect of its society, its technology, its politics, and its religion. Luckily, you don’t need to read thousands of pages to be able to follow the story that director Denis Villeneuve has set out to tell. Villeneuve streamlines the story, stripping away Herbert’s dense philosophy and orthodoxy, while managing to keep the greater themes. He does just enough world-building to tell the story.
Dune is an ambitious film. Its cast of characters rivals that of a Shakespearean tragedy. Nobles and peasants, playing out their parts in a story bigger than any of them, something this cast should be familiar with. Many of these actors have spent the last decade filling out the roster in some of the biggest film franchises to hit theaters.
That is, save Timothée Chalamet. He plays Paul, heir to the Ducal throne of House Atreides. We quickly learn he is more than just an emo-looking kid who doesn’t want to be Duke. Paul comes across as a relatable teen who wants to hang out with friends. He wants to go with his cool mentor, Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa). When he wants to blow off his training, the idea gets quickly nixed by teacher Gurney (Josh Brolin). In the end, he is a dutiful son, following the lead of his father, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), and listening to his mother, the Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson).
Villeneuve has been very vocal in his disappointment with Warner Brothers’ decision to make Dune available for streaming at the same time as its theatrical release. It was a decision made at the height of a global pandemic before there was a clear sense of how long we were facing a complete shutdown. That said, the director may be right. This is a film you do not want to watch at home, especially on a small screen, like a phone or tablet. Dune is a huge epic, with visuals as big as the Shai Hulud, the monstrous sandworms that inhabit the wastelands of Arrakis. A home theater set up, with the largest screens available, and high-end speakers may provide a passable viewing experience. But this is an epic that deserves the full silver screen experience.
You may leave this film feeling like you just watch the longest trailer for a bigger story… and you may be right. You may feel cheated, after committing to over 2 and a half hours, only to find it ending, just as the story seems to get moving. Some of the cast feel underused. Zendaya’s Chani, the Freman who is destined to be Paul’s partner in his fight, barely appears in the film… and most of her scenes are in Paul’s prophetic dreams. David Bautista‘s Beast, Rabban also lacks development. His role as the brutal fist of House Harkkonan, the Atreides’ Rival for control of Arrakis, is there for Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen to have someone to explain the story’s larger political machinations to. And, of course, to lead the Harkonnen forces in brutal battle. These characters do indeed play bigger roles in the second half of the story, but when that story will be told is anyone’s guess. It should be noted, that while the film is subtitled ‘Part One,’ Warner Brothers has yet to officially greenlight Part Two.
Ultimately, Dune Part One manages to stand alone, but your enjoyment of the film may be tempered by the feeling that you just committed yourself to yet another multi-film franchise.
Dune is in theaters now and available to stream on HBO Max for the next 4 weeks.
