DUNE (2021), Dir. by Denis Villeneuve

Barring the inherent challenges that come with adapting a 400 page novel in 5 hours of runtime, the the first half of the Dune novel delivers on all fronts; it’s equal parts spectacle, filmmaking technique, and Hollywood flash. One can only hope its effects on the Hollywood system are positive and lasting.

Impressed enough to warrant a second watch, I revisited DUNE with the intention of paying close attention to the sound design and score. Both play a crucial role the sensory accomplishments that Dune is able to pull off. Villeneuve takes advantage of a wide range of frequencies, too: the tranquil shores in the first half of the film are reminiscent of Terrence Malick’s poetic fashion, while the sounds of the booming siege sequence harken to the sensory overload of crashes and gunfire in Michael Mann’s Heat.