Dune
Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis and Sting
Rated MA15+
With Victorian cinemas now open again but Denis Villeneuve’s Dune not coming out in Australia until December 2, let’s look at David Lynch’s 1984 Dune adaptation.
Based on Frank Herbert’s iconic novel, Dune follows Paul (Kyle MacLachlan), heir to the spacefaring House of Atreides, who becomes a messiah to the Fremen, the natives of the desert planet Arrakis.
Dune is a tedious, poorly-paced visual masterpiece.
Maclachlan is rather wooden as Paul, the performances are generally staid and flat, and the film is choked with inorganic exposition.
Nearly every minute detail is described with dry spoken dialogue or inner narration, which is unnecessary and even patronising. The Emperor-backed siege of House Atreides by grotesque rival House Harkonnen is a visually exciting set-piece, but the build-up carries little suspense after every privy character relentlessly explains their plans. In contrast to the long, plodding first act, Paul’s time with the Fremen and his showdown with the Harkonnens are extremely rushed.
Despite its severe narrative flaws, Dune is one of the most visually breathtaking films of the eighties, with stunning sets, costumes and miniatures. The film has a rousing score by rock band Toto and a majestic theme by Brian Eno. Dune also has several thrilling battle sequences, although Lynch is not good at directing smaller skirmishes or hand-to-hand fight scenes.
A beautiful but intensely frustrating watch, Dune is available on DVD and iTunes.
