Skip to main content

Dune (2021)

 


Dune is the sci-fi political epic that inspired Star Wars. This remake was reimagined by Denis Villeneuve, who is easily becoming one of my favorite modern directors.

Written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune is atmospheric and meticulous. Everything has meaning and purpose. Nothing feels out of place, and the political drama isn't expository. That was something I was worried about going into the film. Villeneuve took the leadership to make a sequel to one of the best sci-fi movies of all time Blade Runner, and perhaps lightning does strike twice.

Academy Award nominee Timothee Chalamet, who is probably be known for Call Me by Your Name, needed to have his acting on point throughout the movie since there are so many close-ups of him to portray such a complicated but easily understood character. He's supposed to feel unimpressive at first and grows as a character to fulfill the arc that is asked of him. I couldn't think of a better cast for Paul Atreides.

There is such a large cast for this film, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard, and even Javier Bardem. Some of which I totally lose them in their character, especially Bardem and Skarsgard. Even if his role was diminished for returns on the sequel since this epic was broken into two parts. 

You might be wondering why I didn't mention Rebecca Ferguson and that's because I wanted to talk about her particularly. She wasn't given much to act on in Mission Impossible and she did well in Doctor Sleep, and my thoughts on Reminiscence should probably stay silent. But, in this film I can say she gives her best effort and you can really tell her acting lessons are starting to pay off. This won't be the film that gives her an oscar nomination but I could see her being cast in an oscar movie one of these days because of how much she has grown.

I was glad I had played the board game Dune Imperium before watching this movie as there are a lot of different terms that might lose some of the audience. I haven't read the book or seen the original movie, shocker I know, but perhaps now would be a good time to go back and read the book. 

I haven't felt this way about a movie since 2019 which feels so far away now. Easy A in my book.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is directed by Jon Favreau , known for Iron Man and Chef , with much of the story influence clearly coming from Dave Filoni , known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ahsoka . Unfortunately, the film falls into the same “and then” style of storytelling that hurts many modern franchise films, where scenes feel stitched together without enough meaningful progression. Entire stretches of the movie, particularly long sequences involving Grogu wandering through a forest, feel padded and lacking purpose. Instead of building momentum, the film drifts from moment to moment without ever creating a compelling central narrative. Pedro Pascal , known for The Last of Us and Narcos , once again plays the Mandalorian, though his presence feels strangely limited. It is difficult not to notice how often the character appears disconnected physically and vocally, giving the impression that Pascal himself may not have been involved in large portions of the performa...
Post a Comment
Read more

In the Grey (2026)

In the Grey is written and directed by Guy Ritchie , known for Snatch and The Gentlemen , and the film carries all the style and personality audiences expect from him. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is confident, and the story constantly moves with a sense of swagger that keeps it entertaining throughout. Ritchie once again proves he knows how to make even familiar action setups feel fresh through his direction and character work. Eiza González , known for Baby Driver and Ambulance , plays the beautiful and manipulative lawyer role perfectly. She brings confidence and charisma to every scene, balancing charm with danger in a way that fits naturally into Ritchie’s world. Beyond just looking the part, she fully commits to the character’s aggressive personality and ends up being one of the film’s strongest presences. Henry Cavill , known for Man of Steel and The Witcher , delivers another very likable performance. His natural charm works extremely well here, especially in the fil...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)

Lee Cronin's The Mummy is directed by surprise-surprise  Lee Cronin , best known for Evil Dead Rise , and his style is immediately recognizable. The film plays less like a traditional Mummy story and more like a modern possession horror with a different skin. It often feels like a “what if Evil Dead involved a mummy,” leaning heavily into familiar genre beats rather than carving out something distinct. The tone prioritizes intensity and shock, with a focus on gore over sustained dread, which keeps it engaging in moments but limits its ability to build true horror. Jack Reynor , known for Midsommar and Sing Street , plays the father figure at the center of the chaos. His performance is solid and grounded, fitting well within the expectations of the genre. He brings a level of sincerity that helps anchor the film, even as the story follows a fairly predictable path. His arc plays out in a way that will feel familiar to anyone who has seen possession films like The Exorcist , but ...
Post a Comment
Read more