Writer and Director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 2 is the most visually stunning movie of the last 10 years. Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides breathtakingly rides atop the massive speeding Sandworm on desert planet Dune. Paul kisses the love of his life Chani, played by Zendaya, on the sand dune at sublime sunset. Timothee is quiet power and swag as Dune’s Messiah Paul Muad’ Dib. Beautiful Zendaya is compassionate strength as Chani. Writers Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaiths’s screenplay based on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic novel runs about 45 minutes too long. That being said, Dune: Part 2 is perfectly imperfect. There is still beauty and heart in its imperfection.
Dune: Part 2 continues the saga of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021). As my friend Ron said that Denis’s Dune: Part 2 is very faithful to Frank Herbert’s source material with much of the speaking narrative discarded. Instead, Denis displays his riveting eye candy visuals that mesmerize. However, his indulgence becomes a glaring distraction that dilutes his and Jon Spaihts’s screenplay narrative. Charismatic Timothee Chalamet as Paul delivers several impassioned speeches “atop the mountain” to his adopted Fremen people that sound redundant. We get that Paul is the Chosen One, the Messiah. We don’t need a sledgehammer.
Timothee Chalamet’s authentic humanity and internal battle are the saving grace of Dune: Part 2. Denis is at his best when leverages Paul’s emotional bursts. In the narrative arc, Paul challenges his arch nemesis Feyd-Rantha, the deadly sadist Harkonen, played with ferocious gravitas by Austin Butler. Paul stands down powerful Bene Gesserit Reverand Mother Mohiam, played by strong noble Charlotte Rampling, when he screams, “Silence!” Paul’s mother Jessica, also a Bene Gesserit Priest, played by beautiful brave Rebecca Ferguson, reminds her son, “Your father didn’t believe in revenge.” Paul replies, “But I do.” The Emperor, played with evil weariness by Christopher Walken, tells Paul, “Your father was a weak man.” The Emperor had his father murdered. Paul stares right through the Emperor in fierce silence. Before fighting Feyd-Rantha, Paul quietly tells Chani, “I will love you as long as I breathe.” These moments define Dune 2 in its most moving and inspired.
In Dune: Part 2, Denis Villeneuve often mistakes bigger as better. Dune: Part 2 is most powerful when it’s personal, when it’s about what’s happening inside his characters. In the Dune mythology, the spice mined on Arakis, Dune Desert Planet, wields the power of space travel across the universe. The malevolent Baron Harkonen, played with menacing zeal by Stellan Skarsgard, rules Dune with his nephew Feyd in charge of the mining operation. Paul seeks to destroy the spice mining on Dune. He confesses, “He who can destroy a thing has the real control.” Yet, we don’t control anything. Really.
Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba said, “Those who are possessed by nothing, possess everything.” Paul transforms into the Messiah when he gives up control. Dune: Part 2 soars when Paul lets go. After drinking the poison water from the Sandworms, he transcends as the Chosen One. He says, “I see possible futures all at once… And in so many futures our enemies prevail. I do see a way.” Paul opens up and becomes present to what’s possible in the moment. What we all can do, as well.
In spite of the expansive gaudy bloody battles between the Fremen and Harkonen, the most meaningful battle lies within Paul. What does he have to give up to become the Chosen One? Dune: Part 2 rises as Paul arises as the Hero, discovering his power within. Power that he always possessed.
The Hero inspire us to be the greatest that we can be. They enter their fear inside and become the greatest that they can be. That makes Dune: Part 2 worth watching.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Author
