Welp, the rest of 2024 is ruined for me, because I don’t think any other film will top Dune: Part 2.
Dune is a triumphant achievement in filmmaking. Denis Villeneuve’s vision for this IP is fully realized in this film, and everyone brings their best to the table. Greig Fraser perfectly captures the sandy dunes of Arrakis and the muted and despondent atmosphere of Giedi Prime. Hans Zimmer’s score outdoes himself again and elevates the already otherworldly score from the previous film. Timothee Chalamet has already established himself as a star, and this may be his biggest role yet. The rest of the supporting cast play their parts brilliantly.
Every frame of this movie you could hang up in a museum. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I generally love the sci-fi genre but I have surprisingly few sci-fi movies that I really, really adore. Dune: Part 2 is now the golden standard for how films in this genre should look like going forward. This film has a perfect mix of shooting on location along with really well-done CGI. There is a sense of scope and grandiosity that I haven’t seen in a sci-fi epic in a long time, probably since Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049.
While I didn’t completely feel the emotional resonance of some of the bigger plot points, I’m perfectly content with how Villeneuve concludes the first book of Frank Herbert’s series. There are so many memorable moments throughout Dune: Part 2 that leaves me wondering how Villeneuve is going to top this with the third film. While some have complained that the ending feels like a cliffhanger, I would disagree as it marks the end of an important aspect of Paul Atreides’s journey. There is definitely more to come, but I think they ended the film in a wholly satisfying way.
Every other filmmaker working in the sci-fi space should be taking notes right now. Villeneuve has nearly perfected both small-scale and large-scale filmmaking in this genre, and I’m so excited to see him continue to wow us with his upcoming movies. Hopefully WB and other studios start giving him a blank check to make whatever he wants, because he is a master in transporting us to distant worlds and taking us along for these crazy, epic rides.
Grade: A/95
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