Best Picture Nominees Ranked: № Eight: “Dune: Part Two” (2024)
“Power over spice is power over all.”
In 2021, director Denis Villeneuve reintroduced the world of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece to the general public with his first “Dune” adaptation. While that movie was critically praised, many had issues with the film’s anticlimactic ending. This was because it only adapted the first half of the book, and this sequel picks up like nothing ever happened.
The plot continues the story of Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet, in one of two of this year’s Best Picture Nominees) who now finds himself living among the native Fremen of Arrakis, where he soon falls in love with a woman named Chani (played by Zendaya). He also proclaims himself to be the prophesied messiah of the Fremen people, the Lisan al-Gaib, and must reckon with the fact that taking up this mantle means the inevitable slaughter of billions of lives will be on his hands.
He is forced to confront the evil house Harkonnan and their champion Feyd-Rautha (played by Austin Butler, in his first major role since his portrayal of Elvis in the eponymous 2022 film) to regain control of Arakkis and the valuable spice “melange” that it provides.
The scale of the film is simply immense for a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster, with the multiple scenes involving the sandworms, in particular, taking my breath away on several occasions. While not quite as grandiose and well-directed as “The Brutalist,” I still find myself greatly respecting the vision that Villeneuve was able to put to the screen.
The rest of the cast also gives great performances, with Javier Bardem as the Fremen tribal leader Stilgar, Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban, and Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Harkonnen all having great moments.
However, after ruminating about the film for almost a year, my appreciation for it has slightly gone down with time. 2021’s “Dune,” despite its overly long runtime and pacing issues, still felt like a more original and more impressive film. My Grandma also despised 2021’s “Dune,” and her review was quite biting.
“I kept thinking that it was going to get better, and it just never did,” said my grandma.
I can confirm that this film is more of the same, and while it is still quite enjoyable, it may not be for everyone.
Out of the five Oscar nominations the film received, the only one that I am confident that it will win is for Best Visual Effects. “The Brutalist” is a stronger contender for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design, while I also suspect that either “Wicked” or “A Complete Unknown” will win Best Sound.
My final rating for “Dune: Part Two” is an 8/10.