How ‘Dune’ went from ‘unfilmable’ to a major Oscars player
Adapted from Frank Herbert’s beloved book, the sci-fi epic “Dune” was a movie many never expected they’d see. Others tried to bring Herbert’s complex world to the screen, but it was director Denis Villeneuve who finally delivered a critical and commercial success. The Warner Bros. release was fronted by two of today’s hottest young actors: Timotheé Chalamet and Zendaya (though the latter’s involvement in the film was decried as being all too brief).
“Dune” earned 10 nominations for the 2022 Oscars: cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, original score, production design, sound, visual effects, adapted screenplay and best picture — though, in a surprise, Villeneuve did not make the cut in the directing category.
Although this is only Part 1 of a planned two-part adaptation, for Times critic Justin Chang “it’s hard to deny the excitement of feeling swept up in this movie’s great squalls of sand, spice and interplanetary intrigue, realized with a level of craft so overpowering in its dust-choked aridity that you may want to pull your mask up a little tighter in the theater.”
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Heralded as the best sci-fi novel of all time, previous adaptations of Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ have fizzled. Now it’s Denis Villeneuve’s turn.
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“Dune” director Denis Villeneuve discusses significant departures from the sci-fi classic source material.
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Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Oscar Isaac headline Denis Villeneuve’s seat-rattling adaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi classic.
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The new film “Dune” ends on a cliffhanger. With the second half of Frank Herbert’s classic story still to tell — not to mention all its sequels and prequels — where will the “Dune” universe go from here?
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Bringing iconic sci-fi villains to the screen in director Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ was a massive special effects undertaking for every department.
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Editor Joe Walker credits director Denis Villeneuve as being a master of picking the right shot.
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Visual effects paired with cinematography to create the menacing yet majestic sandworm.
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“All the melodies are questions. They’re meanders,” says composer Hans Zimmer.
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Production designer Patrice Vermette works with director Denis Villeneuve’s “no green screen” mandate to construct intimidating buildings and fierce war machines.
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Promoting their new movie, ‘Dune’ actors Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet are leaving interviewers and fans in awe of their obvious affection for each other.
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Here’s why Zendaya is in ‘Dune’ only for seven minutes. But it’s a safe bet that she’ll be back for the sequel, which was announced Tuesday.
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Denis Villeneuve, along with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts, pays tribute to the writer and his visionary, decades old -- and still relevant-- novel.
