REVIEW: DUNE - PART TWO

4/5

Dunesday.

165 Mins. Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling & Javier Bardem. Director: Denis Villeneuve. In: Theatres.

It's sands of time, you jumped on the 'Dune' buggy bandwagon. Coming out of the pandemic, 'Arrival', 'Sicario' and 'Blade Runner 2049' director Denis Villeneuve refused to take HBO to the Max and let his big-screen (now we know it as) 'Dune: Part One' to be a victim of the home cinema, small-screen streaming surge during our social isolation. It's the same reluctance that led 'Interstellar', 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight's director Christopher Nolan to take his ball and go to Universal after a long relationship, from 'Memento' to 'Tenet', with Warner Bros. Now Nolan may finally receive his overdue Oscar for 'Oppenheimer', you can see vivid shades of him in Villeneuve, all the way down to the former Legendary Pictures production company and stirring scores from the great Hans Zimmer. The John Williams of our time, like Nolan, is Spielberg. The redefining, Denis has turned brilliant blockbusters into an art form, with a poet's eye behind the camera for science-fiction epics that border on the Biblical. Such is the nature of our futures, prophesied from our collective pasts and paths. Philip K. Dick's electric dreams would be proud, like they would have been of the French-Canadian's beautiful 'Blade Runner' sequel. But this is Frank Herbert's ancient tome, first took on by David Lynch in 1984 of all years, and now brought to searing screens with boundless beauty of compelling cinematics.

IMAX. Dolby Atmos. Experience it everywhere, except for your smartphone screens. Because 'Dune: Part Two' is a superb sequel worthy of its predecessing, outstanding original. Deeper and darker as it sets up the messiah, even if your protagonist is denying it like Monty Python. Turns out he really is a very naughty boy. Timothée's terrific take on Paul Atreides is worthy of all (with much respect to the Twin Peaks' of Kyle MacLachlan, damn good acting), even if the charming Chalamet's compelling descent, walking the fine line between darkness and light, may leave some adrift in the desert. Not 'No Country For Old Men' and 007 villain legend Javier Bardem, mind. His belief to the word is his bond. He's obviously never seen Python, but as he rides snakes in the sand (I need that therapeutic thumper to help me sleep) that redefine cinematic creature features, he doesn't waste a word like he urges everyone to hold their water. Just like you should in this almost longform three-hour runtime. But what of the Beyoncé famous Zendaya in this renaissance? After her teased appearance in the first part that was akin to the awakening force of Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker up on the hill, she's here, clear and present in the danger of the war to come and what it will do to the men, women and children waging it. The 'Euphoria' and 'Spider-Man' star has always been a bigger name than her projects, but now she's here in the best of her biggest movies.

Bene Gesserit, scary, but sometimes hilarious, tones (I wish I had that voice when teaching) I can also speak that truth into existence for the power of the great Rebecca Ferguson. A star who was dubbed as the next up after stealing the show in 'Mission: Impossible' and Hugh Jackman movies made her 'The Greatest Showman'. Now, alongside the 'Dead Reckoning' of last year's 'M:I', she holds the keys to many a major franchise. And here with an inked face and Gesserit regalia, she looks like royalty, like the legendary Charlotte Rampling. Add the returning villains of Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård, and the Thanos turned hero of Josh Brolin (a surprise spoilt by the trailers, but still a sweet payoff when you see it emotionally play out on film) to the mix (and check out his enchanting 'Exposures' behind the scenes photo album with Greig Fraser) and all is forgiven for the thanks given to the three barrelled names of 'Beau Is Afraid's' Stephen McKinley Henderson and newbie Tim Blake Nelson hitting the cutting room floor. But just you wait for an undeniable, uncredited cameo. Newcomers include a Zendaya more to come, chain-mailed Florence Pugh, an incredible Léa Seydoux, a pivotal Souheila Yacoub, and the legendary Christopher Walken. But it's the shaved head and 'brows of Austin Butler's knife licking villain that really steals the show and seals the deal. Especially when 'Elvis' leaves the building and enters a noir 'Gladiator' arena in artistic black and white. As deadly as a scorpion with a Sting in his tale. 'Part Two' of Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune' saga promises us to be the Godfather of cult classic trilogy adaptations like 'The Lord Of The Rings', 'Planet Of The Apes', or Nolan 'Knight'. But if we are really to believe in the rumoured 'Messiah' to come, it's time to put two hands together and bow down on our knees. For 'Dune' to be definitive in blockbuster and movie making lore, it has to reach the most high. The tree and water of life. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Dune: Part One', 'Dune (1984)', 'Blade Runner 2049'.