Just as predicted, Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two" sweeps us off our feet with its sprawling display of creativity and visual magnificity. This stellar piece goes beyond the typical hero journey, delivering an intricately woven narrative rich in themes of power and fanaticism. Its colossal spectacle is a testament to Villeneuve's ambitious vision and his phenomenal collaboration with the top talents of the film industry.
"Dune: Part Two" continues soon after the events of the first film, capturing the Fremen's journey homeward with Jamis's (Babs Olusanmokun) body, freshly defeated in a duel against Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet). Amid chaos and battles, we see Rabban Harkonnen portrayed by Dave Bautista as a clueless war commander while Stellan Skargard delivers a frightful depiction of his character, drained in darkness.
The crescendo of the Arrakis power struggle serves as the backdrop for the film while Paul's transformation into a potential leader takes center stage. A firm believer in his leadership prophecy is the Fremen tribal leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem), who sees Paul as the Chosen One. Paul fully embraces his newfound role and takes up the tribal name of Muad’Dib, plotting retaliation for his father's death.
Meanwhile, on a different planet, we see Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) and his daughter Irulan (Florence Pugh) discussing Arrakis's state with a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling). It's soon revealed that the Emperor is responsible for House Atreides' fall - putting him on Paul's revenge radar.
The writers, Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, intricately blend interstellar politics and religious zeal, further magnifying the plot's complexity. Lady Jessica's emergence as a powerful figure among the Fremen and her maneuvering of Paul's ascendancy add layers of ambiguity to the narrative.
The film's richness lies not only in its structured narrative but also in its stunning craftwork. Greig Fraser's breathtaking cinematography captures contrasting worlds of Arrakis' inhabitants with striking colors and orchestration of light. Hans Zimmer's Oscar-winning score skillfully mismatches the Fremen's warm tones with the cold metallic sounds of the Harkonnens.
As for the cast, Chalamet's Paul may seem somewhat subdued, but this adds depth to his character's curious development. Despite a lack of chemistry with Chalamet, Zendaya delivers a solid performance, while Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem elevate the film with their nuanced acting. Austin Butler, with his grand overplay as Feyd-Rautha, perfectly balances Chalamet's internal turmoil.
"Dune: Part Two" has been likened to "The Empire Strikes Back," but a more accurate comparison would be to "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" - a sequel that evolves character arcs and heightens the sense of imminent peril. It leaves us eagerly anticipating the third installment, proving that the scale of "massive" can indeed be extended. Brian Tallerico is an eminent media critic and the Managing Editor of renowned film critique website RogerEbert.com, also writing for The New York Times, GQ, and Vulture among others. Tallerico is also the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.
