Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve, 2024)

Done again

(Warning: details of both '84, '21, '24 films and '65 book discussed in freewheelingly explicit detail)

Denis Villeneuve finishing his two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel and you want to ask: was it worth the wait? Was it worth the hype? Was it worth sitting through the first movie?

Pretty much said all I needed to say in my first article save to confirm yes Villeneuve will continue his holier than thou ultrarespectful approach to the Herbert books, enshrining them in crystal atop marble pedestals. 

And yes some additional fiddling was done to bring the books in line with our more politically correct times: the bombing of Arrakeen calls to mind the Palestinian attack on the Israelis and later the Israeli shelling of Gaza (never mind that it's the Fremen committing both acts, the visual metaphor is established and your brain isn't fast enough to recognize important differences). Zendaya's Chani has been jiggered to take on a more significant and active role, as the human face reacting to Paul Muad'Dib's (Timothee Chalamet's) ascension from cute boyfriend to early messiahood and as a voice speaking out for indigenous communities. 

Careful distinction made between the more fanatical Southern Fremen (who have been indoctrinated by the Bene Gesserit) and the more skeptical Northern* folk--  a bit like distinguishing between 'bad' Palestinians and 'good' Palestinians. Every so often we have Paul remembering a nightmare he had of jihad (a word never once uttered on film), of billions dying because he starts a holy war; he follows a figure-- is it his sister Alya (who tasted of The Water of Life while still  in her womb?), or some cast member freshly wandered off a Terence Malick set?

*(You'd think the North being geographically closer and easier to penetrate the Bene Gesserit would do better-- but apparently Southerners are more receptive to this kind of faith seeding. Secular north vs religious south-- yet another hamfisted attempt at relevance)

I've noted that Lynch's adaptation doesn't put things so baldly, and one can interpret the Atreides' victory two ways: as an unqualified success, so successful that science becomes magic and rain comes to Dune for the first time; or as Paul's slide into fanaticism and fascism, his sister Alya poised orgiastically with bloodied knife in one hand, his soldiers assembled like the stormtroopers in Triumph of the Will, and rain falling on Dune for the first time, a miracle to sanction his holy war. 

In this version Chani's expression is all too clear and we're being prepared for the darker passages of Dune Messiah when things really go sideways. Not sure Villeneuve was right to telegraph the events of Messiah so loudly in Part Two-- if he believed in Herbert he should trust Herbert's instinct to make the doomsaying less strident and more like background noise, ultimately rising up in volume to take over in the last installment. 

Note that the Harkonnens continue to inspire yawns. Stellan Skarsgard's Baron looks more lost than loathsome (admittedly he was like that in the book's final chapters) and Austin Butler as the much-hyped Feyd-Rautha comes disappointingly across like Sting on quaaludes, or a more chill Jared Leto.

Zendaya gives the film's best performance as Paul's love interest-- if there are any human stakes involved in this picture (god knows how precious little there actually is) they can be found written on her wary later loving later bewildered later embittered face. Javier Bardem plays the Anthony Quinn role of loud and entertaining savage in this big screen version of Lawrence of Arabia (Zendaya could be this movie's Omar Sharif). Timothee Chalamet may be the credited hero and especially in Part One, when he's clearly outmatched by all the forces arrayed against, he makes for a persuasively hapless victim; in Part Two where he's asked to play dangerous fanatical messiah he comes off as dangerous as Spongebob Squarepants. **

**(And the animated series actually pay tribute to Herbert's creatures, in the episode where Spongebob and his friend Sandy deal with an Alaskan Bull Worm)

Overall the movie... feels like a Denis Villeneuve movie. Take a famous franchise (Blade Runner or 2001 anyone?), pluck out all that's unique and eccentric, update it closer to what's acceptable in these politically correct times, grind thoroughly till matte black featureless. Music either droned or loudly banged by Hans Zimmer (as opposed to Toto's rock-opera score back in '84). Hand to hand combat photographed too close in to see clearly-- I'm guessing Chalamet failed to keep up with training and Villeneuve had to cover with jerky footage and frenetic editing. 

The climax feels anticlimactic-- no silly downpour of course but no dramatic equivalent either, just the vague promise of a part 3. Will I be there a third time? I guess, though more reluctant than ever-- Villenueve's projects are about as inspiring as a sandbox and not as much fun; give me a beach blanket and umbrella and a good book and maybe I won't feel like I wasted time (once managed to finish One Hundred Years of Solitude that way). Meanwhile I don't have my hopes up.