Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ is beautiful, but not much else
Denis Villeneuve released “Dune” (2021) into a dizzying sandstorm of expectations. The star-studded cast promised recognizable, idolized personalities, such as Timotheé Chalamet and Zendaya. Author Frank Herbert established the franchise decades ago and posthumously left Villeneuve a dedicated, literary fanbase. Commentators, and the director himself, urged audiences to see the film in theaters, lest its cinematic artistry go unappreciated.