Dune: Part 1

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 1 is a visual feast for the eyes and senses, but its heart is a bit harder to detect.  Ever since Frank Herbert's novel was initially published in 1965, Hollywood has made multiple attempts to bring the story to life.  There was Alejandro Jodorowsky's efforts back in the 70s, which never came to light, but inspired a documentary of its own.  Most notably, David Lynch gave us a troubled adaptation in 1984 (which he late disowned) that left audiences more bewildered than engaged.  There was even a TV film on the SyFy Channel a while back.  Herbert's story has kind of become Hollywood's Great White Whale, constantly hunting and chasing after the perfect adaptation that will please the built-in fanbase, and those in the audience that are walking in cold.

Villeneuve's effort (long delayed by the pandemic) is Hollywood's latest hope to lure people back to theaters, without having to rely on a Marvel Comic property.  And if you're looking for a grand vision and some spectacle, you will certainly find it here.  It seems almost a crime that Warner Bros. is also releasing this on streaming the same day, as those who watch it by that method will not be seeing it the way it was meant to be.  But for all of its visual splendor, the movie never quite transported me, because of a curious lack of emotion.  Deciding to divide the novel into two parts is a smart idea, but what the filmmakers have done is divide it in such a way that this film is essentially two and a half hours of set up.  It leads to a film that is splendid to look at, but will probably play better to a lot of people when the second film comes around.

Herbert's novel is famous for being dense and complex, and the movie follows suit, giving us a Sci-Fi setting that is probably more serious than the usual Hollywood blockbuster fare these days.  Set in the distant future, the action is mostly centered on the planet Arrakis, a desert world that is known for its massive sandworms that burrow beneath the ground, and for being rich in a material known as spice, which can increase human vitality and also aids in planetary travel.  In this universe, the world are run by feudal rulers, and as the film opens, the ruler of the ocean planet of Caladan, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) has been given control of Arrakis by the unseen Emperor Shaddam IV.  The wise Duke suspects that he is being set up for a trap of some kind, but regardless, he transfers his army, his concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and their son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) to the planet in an attempt to bond with the Arrakis' native people, the Fremen.  

Turns out the Duke is right to be suspicious of his orders, as it is revealed to all be an effort to wipe out him, his family, and followers in an attempted coup.  The film marks the early moments of Paul's training where he will eventually become a hero and savior to the people of Arrakis, and avenge the evil plot that was staged against his people.  There's much talk about a prophecy, some prophetic dream sequences, and a lot of fleeting glimpses of a young Fremen woman named Chani (Zendaya) who will play a big part in Paul's life in the second film, but here is mostly regarded to a lot of cameos, and a line at the end that teases what is to come.  So, while Paul may follow the standard "Chosen One" story arc that is so beloved in Fantasy and Sci-Fi fiction, what we mostly get here is just a lot of teasing of future events.

As much as Dune: Part 1 wows the senses, it never quite reached that all-consuming joy that a truly great epic can instill with me.  While the movie itself is grand in scope, its characters often seem dwarfed by their surroundings, at least in this cinematic staging.  Part of this is due to the screenplay which, while faithful to the source, is exposition-heavy rather than engrossing.  The rest is due to the performances which, while not bad in any way, never come across as truly human or relatable.  For fans of the books, I'm sure this will matter little.  But for those who have not dived deep into Herbert's worlds or mythology, this might seem incomplete.  While a sequel is almost inevitable, it's still a long way off.  Will this be enough to entice audiences to want to come back for Part 2?  That's a more difficult question.  All I can say is my own personal reaction, which had me intrigued, but also frustrated a lot of times.  I was loving what I was seeing, but I kept on waiting for something other than the visuals to sweep me away, and it never quite happened.

This cinematic take treads a fine line between brilliance and unevenness, but it ultimately does stay afloat, and leaves the viewer wanting to see what it's leading up to, which is obviously the point.  So, I guess it can be labeled a success.  But, I'm more intrigued by what visuals there are to come, rather than witnessing more of Paul's hero journey. 

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