Written by Colby Covalt
In 1965, Frank Herbert authored one of the most iconic science fiction novels of all time, “Dune.” Herbert’s novel inspired numerous wildly successful books, movies and TV series. Good day, Harding, my name is Colby Covalt, and this is my review of Dennis Villeneuve’s cinematic interpretation of “Dune,” which came out last October. Villeneuve’s film adaptation astonished casual viewers and long-time readers alike with his take on the classic novel.
“Dune” is a space epic focused on House Atreides, who is given authority over Arrakis, otherwise known as Dune, the home to the most valuable drug in the universe. Many would kill for such a drug, and now House Atreides is subject to deception on a Galactic scale. Herbert’s Tolkien-level of detail in masterfully designing a universe creates quite the challenge for movie directors driven with the ambition to tackle such a project. David Lynch, John Harrison and Alejandro Jodorowsky tried, but each came up short. When I heard Villeneuve, director of magnificent movies like “Blade Runner 2049” and “Sicario,” was splitting “Dune” into two parts, I was more than excited. Villeneuve not only lived up to my expectations, he crushed them.
One of Villeneuve’s trademarks is the stunning cinematography he brings to his films. Each shot is a masterclass of directing, often by using a person or object as a reference to convey the grandeur of a separate article. This is evident in most of “Dune.” One of my favorite shots in the movie is when the colossal sandworm devours a spice harvester with Paul Atreides, son of Duke Leto and heir to House Atreides, looking on from an aircraft in the sky. Villeneuve creates fantastical landscapes that the reader envisions when reading the novel. Everything from the vast desolate nature of Arrakis, to a small room used for a three-second shot, has unparalleled depth. Villeneuve is able to make a film that is alien but feels quite realistic.
Side characters like the brainless, muscled-up Harkonnen Count Glossu Rabban and the jaded but caring Fremen Stilgar are brought to light by actors Dave Batista and Javier Bardem, respectively. The lead roles in Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson’s portrayals as Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica bring raw emotion to each part. A significant component for both characters is internal thought. Although we don’t hear Paul and Jessica’s thoughts, each character brings a level of nonverbal communication, displaying both Paul and Jessica’s introspection perfectly.
The most challenging aspect an adaptation must deal with is the amount of lore ensconced in the novel. The amount of information one must capture when moving “Dune” from page to screen can be overwhelming, such as the long-stretching history and the constant wars throughout the story. Villeneuve, however, communicates the key elements expertly. The way Lady Jessica teaches Paul something called “The Voice,” and the instant power and importance that The Voice possesses, is easily understood.
Despite the difficulty of converting “Dune” from a novel to a theater screen, I consider Villeneuve’s “Dune” the ultimate big-screen adaptation. This movie feels incomplete because it is, but I look forward to “Dune: Part Two,” which comes out Nov. 3, 2023, so we can see Villeneuve’s film mastery continue.
