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Dune " has been named Insider'smovie of the year. - Directed by Denis Villeneuve, "Dune" features stunning visuals and a star-studded cast.
Set thousands of years in the future, in a world where warring Houses fight for control of precious resources, Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" is both a sprawling sci-fi epic and a poignant coming-of-age story — and it's Insider's pick for movie of the year.
Villeneuve's film, based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, isn't the first attempt at translating this complex story to the screen. Herbert's novel was previously adapted by David Lynch in a controversial 1984 film that starred Kyle MacLachlan, Sting, and Patrick Stewart, among others, and featured a soundtrack by Toto. A 2001 miniseries also attempted to capture Herbert's richly-crafted world.
Like Herbert's novel and the adaptations before it, Villeneuve's "Dune" follows a young nobleman, Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in Villeneuve's version), as he travels with his family from their home planet Caladan to the desert wasteland Arrakis. House Atreides has been instructed to seize control of mining the "spice melange" — an all-important substance that increases awareness and extends the physical life of those who consume it.
When they arrive on Arrakis, however, they quickly learn that multiple forces have conspired to take the planet away from them, leaving Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), to flee into the open desert and seek the help of the indigenous Fremen people. Paul also comes to realize that he's the Kwisatz Haderach — a long awaited messiah whose coming has been foretold by both Fremen devotees and the powerful Bene Gesserit sisterhood.
As we've previously said in our review of the movie, the new film is the only adaptation to really do Herbert's vision justice, while also providing some much-needed updates to the story. Female characters are given more agency in this iteration, and nonwhite actors play some of the film's most crucial roles, although it's worth noting that the lead cast is still predominantly white, and some elements of Herbert's story are clearly taken from real-life Middle Eastern cultures.
But despite its flaws, the movie is both visually stunning and emotionally charged, and seems poised to become the next great sci-fi franchise. It's already earned Villeneuve a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination for best director, as well as 10 Critics' Choice Awards nominations, including for best picture, best director, best screenplay, and best score.
Villeneuve, himself a "Dune" superfan, portrays Arrakis, Caladan, and other major locations from the narrative in breathtaking detail (a battle scene between the Harkonnens and Atreides, as well as the first scenes on Arrakis, were particular standouts). Even smaller, more mundane moments, like a breakfast conversation between Paul and Jessica, instantly transport viewers to the complex, meticulously-crafted world of Villeneuve's "Dune," which provides a welcome break from this year's pandemic-related anxieties.
In many ways, the film is incredibly escapist, like all good sci-fi movies should be. But at the core of "Dune" is a relatable narrative about finding yourself and coming to terms with your destiny — and even if you're not the Kwisatz Haderach like Paul, I think we've all felt similarly overwhelmed by expectations suddenly thrust upon us.
"Dune" is the rare film that effortlessly combines magnificent world-building, memorable characters, and a surprisingly relevant storyline into a visual and thematic feast that's a must-watch for casual fans or Herbert aficionados alike. For some, the sci-fi trappings of the story might be off-putting initially, but even the most jaded of viewers can find something to love in Villeneuve's visually stunning and poignant work.
Anchored by standout performances from Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and Jason Momoa, "Dune" is undisputably a masterpiece — and the best film of 2021.