I must confess. Whenever a movie becomes too popular, I get the ick, no matter how brilliant the reviews are. It’s just who I am, and I’ve mostly accepted it… or so I thought.
You see, every once in a while, I watch something new that gets me out of my rut and then kick myself for not having been less of a “hater” before. Today, that movie for me was Dune, which my partner has been recommending me to watch practically since we met, but I, in a classic “me” fashion, had been procrastinating.
So, without further ado, in the spirit of doing something I don’t usually do, here is me reviewing my first English film for this blog!
A “TL;DR” Review of Dune (2021)
- Story — 4.5/5
- Acting — 3.5/5
- Music — 4/5
- Costume Design — 5/5
- Cinematography — 4.5/5
- Direction — 4/5
Must Watch: Yes!
Dune (2021) Review — A Deep Dive
Sci-fi movies can take a lot of time to build up the plot, but Dune gets right to the point from the beginning, which I most appreciate. The next best thing about the story is the tone and pacing, which creates this amazing mix of tension, mystery, and hope that I particularly associate with the gems of the genre.
What is really striking about Dune is its visuals, and the contrast of dark and neutral tones in the outfits and set designs is brilliant. Even though, not so ironically, Dune’s colour palette is pretty earthy, the film is a lesson in how to juxtapose a combination as classic as black and white while still being able to put a different spin on it.
In terms of screen presence, even though Timothee Chalamet is in the lead role, it’s actually Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac whose presence is the most commanding on screen. Zendaya does not feature much, especially towards the beginning of Dune, but her presence is always welcome.
Thematically, Dune is, on the surface, a hero’s journey as he sets off on a new path beset with challenges and sacrifices alike, only to discover who he really is. However, I also found it to be a fascinating story about a mother coming to terms with her son growing up.
This is not to say that Dune is about a mother-son relationship. But given that the female lead is Lady Jessica, much of the story also revolves around her dreams for her child as well as her ambitions as a parent and a member of the Bene Gesserit.
In other words, the story of Paul begins where the dreams and hopes of his mother end, and the film provides us with enough context about Lady Jessica and the bloodline modification that it is almost impossible for any viewer to ignore how the relationship between Jessica and Paul evolves as Dune goes on.
While Dune is, at its core, yet another sci-fi movie that revolves around wars in unknown worlds, it contains enough nuance in its story, design, and cinematography to set it apart from its contemporaries in the genre.
I truly wish I had made the time to go see Dune (Part 1) in the cinema. But suffice it to say I shall not be making the same mistake with Dune (Part 2).
