REVIEW: Dune: Part Two

 Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Souheila Yacoub, Christopher Walken, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling and Léa Seydoux

Dune (2021) was a very good movie, which featured fantastic visual and technical aspects - a movie meant to be admired rather than fully lived mostly because of the "half plotline" from the source material - but then you understand it was all about setting the plot foundations for the cinematic spectacle of Dune: Part Two. It's a movie that will please both fans and non-fans of the first film. In fact, I'm grateful I live in the same time it was made because it allowed me to experience it on a theatre. I was immersed, astonished and utterly marveled with this one!

Dune: Part Two starts at the exact same place and time where it left us in 2021's film and it wastes no time presenting context to the audience. In fact, Part Two is way more narrative-driven, but it never feels overwhelmingly dense: Denis Villeneuve masterful direction balances thrilling sequences with some talky scenes and quieter moments that provide character development. The final result is a movie that's always engaging, never boring and jaw-dropping in multiple occasions: it's one of the most satisfying viewing experiences in recent years!

It features some brilliant technical and artistic aspects that help building a fantasy world the audience can get completely lost during its viewing. Greig Fraser returns to his DP duties and he offers some of the most beautiful work he has ever done, with precise framing, eye-popping use of color and some enchanting use of light and shadow, creating a palette that recalls each planet's own identity - cinematography at full service of the narrative. Speaking of identity, the production design team created impressive worlds here - they could well be called some Godly world builders, considering the jaw-on-the-floor scale of their world. Also, Jacqueline West's costume design is also some sort of spectacular and rich. Hans Zimmer's back with another unworldly score that transports you to Arrakis - which I consider even better, richer than the first Dune's. Visual effects, sound department and makeup & hair team... amazing detailed works. The battle scenes are incredible to watch and the multiple attacks by the Fremen to the spice collectors are thrilling and finely edited, with great visual effects that sell a watch that feels authentic in that moment. Technically, Dune: Part Two is a masterpiece for the ages! 

But it is an ensemble movie, with a larger than life all-star cast led by an impressively charismatic Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides. It's a tricky role (something I can not explain in detail because it would spoil a big part of the film experience) due to the character's arc, but Chalamet understands the assigment and manages to conquer the audiences' sympathy long before he starts delving deep in Paul's darker nature. He's the movie star of his generation with an on-screen charisma and magnetism only to be matched by his co-stars Zendaya and Austin Butler. In fact, while the movie is built around Chalamet/Paul which allows him to shine easily, the same can not be told about Zendaya/Chani who still manages to shine brighter than her leading male co-star - I don't feel it like a competition, but fact is Zendaya seems to be cinematic gravity thanks to the alluring tenacity she brings to her character's eyes, to her character's few lines, to her simple presence... she elevates this movie! Hers is also the heart of the film as her romance with Paul flourishes. I can not wait for Zendaya to be graced with a more complex role on film, because I believe she will make some magic. The other shinning star of the bunch is Austin Butler, who might well have the showiest part as Feyd‑Rautha, the cruel psychopath heir to House Harkonnen - and he puts on a big cinematic performance-spectacle, making for a movie villain for the ages!

Still, the best performances comes from Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica. She was the best acting element of Dune (2021) before, but she reaches new heights here: a woman driven by her survival and mother instincts, a cunning ambitious woman and a vengeful witch. She's delicious to watch in this one and she never misses an opportunity to bring a fascinating yet terrifying aura every time she's on scene. Florence Pugh also has some good moments, but this movie is not meant to give her enough room to use her acting skills and shine. Javier Bardem is effective and he embodies the target of Dune: Part Two's social comment perfectly.

Yes, "social comment". The second part of Dune is not only stunning to look at and thrilling to watch - it also offers a powerful commentary about Faith and the dangers of religious fundamentalism and it makes an even louder statement about the use of religion and spiritual belief at service of political games and personal interests. More than a sci-fi epic fiction, Dune: Part Two's core can be easily translated to our world where people use religions not only as a tool of aggregation that brings social cohesion, but it is also used as a war-maker that only benefit those who are at the top of the social structure. Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts deserve all the praise for the way they wrote Part Two! They made it not only both entertaining and narrative-drive, but also extremely relevant, almost like the most history lesson of one's life.

I simply consider Dune: Part Two to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen! It is the product of a director in full control of his craft, with a great eye for visuals but also a lot of passion for the story he is telling the audience. Beautiful, entertaining, satisfying and relevant!