The Mosley Review: Dune (2021)

First and foremost I have not read the book that film is based upon. I find that book to film adaptations are often disappointing in many ways. That being said, even if I've never read the book, the film should be strong enough on its own and not require me to do research by reading the source material after. For the longest time, I have heard nothing but praise and admiration for the titular book and of course there have been many adaptations, but nothing like this. It is very hard to introduce a new world to an audience these days and not have them compare it to others that exist. The magical thing about this story is that it works in the reverse. I saw where many other franchises, one in particular, were influenced by Dune. The first hour is so rich and thick with information and world building that it felt at times like I needed to join a study group to understand everything. I would be lying if I said I wasn't lost at first, but I shortly caught up and started to understand the political, economical and spiritual themes that were laid upon me. I have to say that this was a great epic that does take its sweet time explaining and showing, but it has many flaws that make it seem almost incomplete and not focusing on some of the characters long enough to make an impact. This was an example of focusing on visuals instead of the actual story.

This is a stacked cast of almost all of the best actors in show business today and they don't disappoint. Timothee Chalamet was excellent and strong as Paul Atreides. The boy is destined for greatness and I liked the growth of him understanding his powers. You feel the weight of his burdened mind as he witnesses the future and is tormented by a constant visual of a girl. Timothee does tend to be very emo in some scenes and I found that he underplayed some of the more scenes that require more. Oscar Issac was perfect as his father Leto and he carries himself with such regalness and strength. I loved that he was a devoted man to the mission that was given to him and he was also a wonderful father. Jason Mamoa was cool as Duncan and I wanted to explore more of the friendship between him and Paul. The chemistry between them was there, but there wasn't enough time to fully engage their bond. Mamoa does what he is great at in the awesome fight scenes, but I feel he got the shortest end of the stick. Josh Brolin was perfectly commanding and intense as Paul's mentor Gurney Halleck. I would trust that man with my personal security forces any day. Rebecca Ferguson was excellent as Paul's mother and Leto's wife, Lady Jessica. I love that she was so loving and yet there were so many secrets about her that I found intriguing and I can't wait to find out more. Stellan Skarsgård was eerie and menacing as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. He was so cold even though you can feel the joy he feels in being responsible for a number of characters' death. Javier Bardem was great as the leader of the Fremen, Stiglar. He carries such gravitas and commands the respect in which ever location he is in. I want to know more about him and the Fremen that are native to their home planet of Arrakis. Zendaya was good as Chani. Now you don't really get that much time with her outside her being in Paul's angelic visions of her, but once she is on screen, she fascinates me.

The score was truly amazing and definitely one of the best I will hear all year. Hans Zimmer's composition for this film was thunderous, pulse pounding, epic and truly out of this world. The scope of film and story is truly vast and you feel it in every single shot. This film is GORGEOUS to behold on the big screen. From the costumes, the different planets, ships and creatures, you truly feel like you've been introduced to fresh landscapes to explore and you want know everything. The themes of economic growth, duty and spiritual enlightenment are all encompassing in this film. The score mixes together with the visuals in a perfectly synced melody that cannot be understated. My major problems with the film were with the sound design and plot points that seemed to be not fully explored. Christopher Nolan has a tendency to prioritize sound fx and music over being able to crisply understand the dialogue. That same mistake was made by this filmmaker and it was beyond frustrating to have to strain my ears past the ambience to hear story points and exposition. That was a major contributor to me losing the story. A perfect example was when Jessica was talking to Paul about his future, she's at least 15 paces away from him and she is whispering while he is speaking at full volume! That is a major pet peeve of mine in cinema and I’m glad the movie “Shazam!” poked fun at it. Another example is where Jessica is saying her "fear is the mind killer" montra and the score is blaring over every word! The sound in the film is amazing, but not for dialogue purposes. I know that this film is only part 1, but man there were moments where I felt I needed to pause and think about whose who in the grand scheme of things. Its a build up for sure, but lacked the amount of storytelling needed to get me fully excited for the sequel. Overall, Director Denis Villeneuve made an amazing piece of art that has many flaws, but should not be missed in anyway. Definitely see this on an IMAX screen. This much epicness shouldn't be viewed on a television no matter how big your set is. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!