Movie Review: Dune: Part Two

The follow-up to 2021’s Dune: Part One, director Denis Villeneuve’s new film Dune: Part Two, continues the hero’s journey of Paul Atreides as he sets out to exact revenge on those who brought his family to ruin. What is remarkable though is that, not only is part two of the series even more compelling and beautiful than the first installment, but it also succeeds in making a forthcoming third film in the series – adapted from the book Dune Messiah (1969) by Frank Herbert – less daunting and more of a must-see event than it might have been otherwise (especially since the series was originally intended to last only two films before the first was released).

This installment continues immediately after the events of the first film. Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) are now in hiding with the Fremen. Now, plotting revenge against those who left his family in ruins, Paul struggles with balancing his new relationship with Chani (Zendaya) along with preventing the horrible visions he has been having foretelling the fate of the entire universe. Ultimately, it may be up to him to choose between destiny and desire.

Besides the returning characters previously mentioned, Josh Brolin resumes his role as Gurney Halleck, Dave Bautisa returns as Glossu Raban, as does Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Vladimir Harkonnen), Charlotte Rampling (Reverend Mother Mohiam), and Javier Bardem (Stilgar). This installment of the series, however, introduces an impressive troop of new performers to the mix.

Timothée Chalamet in “Dune: Part Two.” Warner Bros./Legendary

The biggest standout is easily Austin Butler, who takes on the role of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen – a character who is essentially the anti-Paul of the series – with bravado and gives the nephew of the Baron a sadistic and cruel nature that transcends psychotic and becomes something far more sinister. Similarly, Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Princess Irulan Corrino, the daughter of Emperor Shaddam IV (an underused, but effective Christopher Walken), manages to give additional life to what could have been a far more peripheral character and instead makes her one of the main players in the political intrigue now determining the fate of the universe. Additionally strong – albeit brief – performances from Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, and Anya Taylor-Joy make the cast of this segment of the series an even stronger ensemble than the one present in its predecessor.

As was done with the first film in the series, Villeneuve and fellow screenwriter Jon Spaihts manage to wrangle a behemoth of a book into a coherent and easy-to-follow tale of political intrigue, corruption, and feuding houses (and that is true without going into detail regarding the religious undertones that are not overused or ignored in any way).

Again, Hans Zimmer’s score provides a satisfying backdrop for the sensational visuals provided by cinematographer Greig Fraser. But it is the summation of contributions from all involved that keeps the nearly three-hour running time feel far brisker than might be expected given the narrative heft of the source material.

Although Dune: Part Two was originally going to be the conclusion of the film series, it instead delivers such a satisfying and enthralling second act that the prospect of a third and final film makes the success of this outing all that more impressive.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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