Having seen Dune (2021) just this week — yes, I know I was late to the game — I was extremely excited for Dune: Part Two.
However, if I’m being completely honest, while the sequel did not let me down, Timothee Chalamet’s acting could have been much better.
So, without further ado, let’s just get right into it.
A “TL; DR” Review of Dune: Part Two
- Story — 4.5/5
- Acting — 3.5/5
- Music — 4.5/5
- Costume Design — 5/5
- Cinematography — 5/5
- Direction — 4/5
Must Watch: Yes!
Dune: Part Two Review — A Deep Dive
The thing I really enjoyed about the first instalment was its pacing — the movie gets right to the point and doesn’t waste time in needless world-building. However, Dune: Part Two somewhat struggles in this department.
Now, this is not to say that the sequel is slow in and of itself. However, some scenes felt a little unnecessarily dragged out…
There’s also something about Chalamet in the lead role that doesn’t exactly feel wrong but also doesn’t feel right.
For instance, there were several moments in the film when Chalamet needed to bring more intensity to the role, and in those moments, his acting was not up to par. While the movie explains why Paul makes the choices he does, Chalamet’s acting fails to keep up with the emotional upheaval of his character.
He fared much better with the softer, more romantic scenes, in which Chalamet seemed to know what he was doing — at least when compared to those scenes where his character becomes more powerful.
In other words, while in Dune: Part Two, we see Paul transition from a mere boy into a man who has finally gone out into the world and tried to find his own place, Chalamet’s acting would have you believe otherwise.
On the acting front, Dune: Part Two features stellar performances by Austin Butler, who has done justice to his menacing character. Rebecca Ferguson and Florence Pugh also stood out for their stellar performances, with the former being my favourite of the entire cast. She has the sort of screen presence that will keep you gripped to the edge of your seat.
Fortunately, the aesthetics of Dune: Part Two — be it the set designs or costumes — were breathtaking. This film, like its predecessor, has masterfully made use of black-and-white contrasts, especially for its villains, and presented the most harrowing plot twists with the most beautiful mise en scene and visuals.
By the end of it all, Dune: Part Two did well in the story, direction, music, and design segments. Almost everything does work in its favor, so if you’ve seen the first part and are a fan of the series of sci-fi movies in general, you should check out the sequel.
