Dune: Part Two

#12 at the time of writing.

Rewatched Part One recently, and I think it does a fantastic job of adapting the novel and delivering a compelling, moody sci-fi epic. Part Two is even more epic. I was ready to give myself over to it, and my investment was well rewarded.

Director Denis Villeneuve is no stranger to sweeping sci fi epics, with Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 under his belt - both stellar examples of cinematic sci fi - but with Dune, he has excelled himself.

It captured the multi-generational manipulations of power from the book; the dichotomy of Paul resisting - and yet compelled to embrace - his role in sparking a holy war in which he knows billions will die; the richness of the Fremen culture; etc. The two films together are a remarkably complete adaptation of the first book - which makes them very long! But immensely satisfying.

Jodorowski would be proud. (Alejandro Jodorowski was nearly the first person to adapt Dune. His vision for it, which included among others Pink Floyd, H.R. Giger and Salvador Dalí, is the stuff of legends and directly influenced Alien, Blade Runner, and even Star Wars. See this fantastic documentary for more.)

I'm going to read some of the sequels now. I wonder if anyone will ever attempt them on the silver screen?

Random trivia: Christopher Walken plays Emperor Shaddam IV. Coincidentally, Walken starred in the 2001 music video for the Fatboy Slim song "Weapon of Choice", a song which includes several references to Dune in the lyrics ("Don't be shocked by the tone of my voice", "Walk without rhythm and you won't attract the worm").

The Truman Show

#138 at the time of writing.

Rewatched this recently with the family, and we all loved it. It's a high concept idea: An insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show. Endearingly goofy (albeit a departure from the silliness of Jim Carrey's previous films), accessible and fun - punctuated by some emotionally involving moments of drama.

I remember watching this movie when it first came out, then shortly afterwards watching EDtv, which is similarly about a person's life being a reality TV show. But The Truman Show has so many more iconic moments, no wonder it has better weathered the test of time.

Apparently, some people have delusions that their life is a staged reality show, and this condition has been called the Truman Show delusion. After hearing about the condition, Andrew Niccol, writer of The Truman Show, said, "You know you've made it when you have a disease named after you."

According to IMDb trivia, the film is studied in Media Ethics courses - and I can see why. Truman's friends, coworkers, even his wife are actors - some muddy ethical ground that is provocative food for thought.

(My ten-year-old daughter commented after watching this movie that it was "just like Free Guy" - and she's kind of right! In Free Guy - great movie - an NPC discovers his whole life is a video game. An opportunity for a double feature?)

Oppenheimer

#73 at the time of writing.

Good and only slightly overblown biopic that turned out to be as much about political fallout (pun intended) than the construction of the bomb. The layered script emphasised to me how smart and yet how childish the scientists behind nuclear technology were - as, indeed, are we all. Glad I saw it at the cinema, not sure I’d have the patience for it otherwise. Nevertheless, it seems to be the hot Oscars pick for Best Picture this year.

But, real talk, I have been loving the Barbenheimer memes. In case you missed it, the Internet has been obsessing with the above two films released on the same day that could not be more tonally opposed. I did it - I watched them back-to-back as a double feature - which basically amounted to a six-hour existential crisis. I'm afraid there's no particular benefit to watching them together, but nevertheless I enjoyed the ride.

(Credit to JustRalphy for the Barbenheimer image.)

Poor Things

#144 at the time of writing.

I've enjoyed several of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos's films for their quirky style and daring ambiguity, but not this one. It was a thesis on the ubiquity of human cruelty that I found facile, overlong and distasteful. (The production design and costumes and music, though, are first rate - I predict that's where this movie will get Oscars.)

Drawing from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (with shades of Candide), Tony McNamara's script adapts a 1992 Scottish novel by Alasdair Gray, portraying a childlike woman - or in this case a womanlike child - going out into the world in true ingenue-trope style. But despite this film's highbrow credentials, it is Bad Santa-level crass. Which probably labels me a prude, but there it is: I found the sense of humour unappealing.