Tag: timothee-chalamet

Ranking The Films of Denis Villeneuve

AdamLeave a comment

This weekend saw the release of one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year with Dune: Part Two, directed by the one and only Denis Villeneuve. With that film expecting to be the biggest hit of 2024 thus far, what better time than any to rank all 11 films that have come from the great Villeneuve himself.

Denis Villeneuve is an interesting name when it comes to well known modern filmmakers. While he may not be as big of a household name such as Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan, he still does seem to be common favorite among film lovers, as he seems to always nail it when given the most pressure to do so. Even there are those that don’t care for his work or are currently high rolling at comments he’s made involving the push for longer films and film dialogue being devalued, they have to respect all the man has been able to accomplish thus far in his career.

With Dune: Part Two now out in theaters, the man has directed 11 motion pictures thus far. It’s time to take a look back at each one and see how each one ranks among the other. This is my best to worst ranking of the films directed by Denis Villeneuve!

11.) August 32nd on Earth

Denis Villeneuve’s weakest film thus far just so happens to be his very first one. There is a compelling and moving story hidden somewhere within August 32nd on Earth, a story about how times flies by quicker than one would expect and we will just never accomplish all the things we want to do throughout our lifetime. However, you can tell this is when Villeneuve was still trying to get his foot through the door and let his voice be realized on screen. The journey the characters are going through can’t quite match up with the overall scope of it along with not being able to stick the landing. It’s no disaster by any means but this is when the man’s unique filmmaking techniques had yet to be ironed out. That being said, you know you have gone to places when your worst film is the very first one that you have made.

10.) Maelstorm

Well, here’s the movie that’s about the most WTF thing imaginable when saying it out loud. We follow a young business woman named Bibianne who kills a fishmonger in a accident, disposes of the body, and then proceed to fall in love with the dead man’s soon. Oh, and it also happens to be narrated by a talking fish. Even when describing the main premise, Maelström is actually a simple pyschological thriller and has that mix of suspense and black comedy that not many of Villeneuve’s movies have. There are times where those two tones clash with one another but it’s worth a watch for yourself just to see if you are able to get into what it possibly the craziest thing that Villeneuve has ever done. I’m sure the narrating fish would approve.

9.) Polytechnique

Here’s the one Denis Villeneuve film that is based off a true story. Polytechinque dives into the 1989 massacre of students at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechinque, which saw the death of 14 women. Villenueve’s attempt to tell this tragic and haunting tale through three different points of views is ambitious but is lead to mixed results. While putting the spotlight on topics surrounding women’s trouble roles in society and reckoning with violence is admirable and done relatively well, the black-and-white visual style leaves the film feeling much flatter than most of Villeneuve’s films. Although, considering we are still having controversial debates surrounding the subject matter of this film literally 35 years later is deeply sad on the real world’s part. Even so, Polytechinque is able to set the stages for Villeneuve’s best French-language film, Incendies, later on down the road, which helps make this feel like a nice beginning of the end of his run with French-language films.

8.) Enemy

Here’s the film that is most remembered for it’s absolute effed up ending. We see Jake Gyllenhaal playing two different characters named Adam and Anthony, with the two becoming intertwined in each other’s lives and at literal war within themselves. Enemy acts as far in a way the most ambiguous film in Denis Villeneuve’s library, offering more questions than answers as to what version that Jake Gyllenhall is suppose to be the real person in the story. And of course, who can forget that ending which definitely left plenty of viewers tangled in webs, quite literally. I still can’t 100% say if Enemy works the way it was intended but it certainly kept me thinking all the way through which I imagine was it’s true goal. I’m sure Spider-Man would be proud with this one!

7.) Sicario

Here’s the film that saw Thanos and the Wolfman needing the help of Mary Poppins to fight Mexican drug cartels. In all seriousness, Sicario is a rock solid film that makes for probably the one film in Denis Villeneuve’s filmography thus far that can be seen as a straight up action film. The entire cast is fantastic here with the notable standouts including Benedict del Toro being completely terrifying as Alejandro Gillick, Jon Bernthal being as brutal and intense here as he is as the Punisher, Josh Brolin being reliably good as Matt, and Emily Blunt standing strongly as the lead and lone female presence of the picture. Credit also has to go to the masterful editing, gorgeous cinematography, and action sequences that are among the best of Villeneuve’s career. It’s rather inconsistently paced and the story itself is among the most conventional of Villeneuve’s films but Sicario is still damn good regardless. The fact this is in the middle-of-the-pack in this rankings says more about this director’s impressive track record than it does to devalue the true quality of this film.

6.) Dune: Part One

The first chapter of Villeneuve’s sci-fi adaptations of Frank Herbert’s work of Dune is a remarkable and impressive visual achievement that was made for the big screen. With it’s enormous scale, diverse cast, and world building like we haven’t seen before in recent memory, this sci-fi epic is just ready to insert itself into every book of “movies you must watch before you die” imaginable! Even after how impressive Part Two delivers, Dune: Part One still can’t help of getting too wrap up of being the first part of a story with pacing that feels a tad too slow and the overall feeling of the best still having yet to come. Even so, Dune is still able to accomplish feeling like a modern day Star Wars the way is has been hyped up to be and is practically destined to become the next big sci-fi epic that Hollywood will desperately try to copy and replicate with iffy results.

5.) Incendies

Among the last of the foreign released films in Villeneuve’s rose gallery, Incendies is still more than welcome in being the top five on this list. This is the film that pulls absolutely zero punches whatsoever and doesn’t shy away from the harsh realism of society. You think everything is going to be alright for one moment and then the rug will be pulled right from under your feet. Villeneuve is able to continue that bleak and complex storytelling that he is well known for along with providing what is hands down the best twist out of any of the films he’s done. Even once you know what it is, it will still be on your mind days after seeing it. Big credit also has to go to Melissa Desormeaux-Poulin with her emotionally powerful performance that helps carry the film. Even with all of his other dark and moody films on display, I don’t think there is a film that Denis Villeneuve has made that has haunt me the way Incendies did.

4.) Blade Runner 2049

I don’t think there is a sequel that seemed like the definition of a bad idea than Blade Runner. The original was a sci-fi epic that was way ahead of it’s time and had multiple different ending that did not demand a follow-up. However, Villeneuve makes what seemed like a near impossible task seem easy as Blade Runner 2049 acts as a more than worthy companion piece to the original Blade Runner. It’s able to expand upon it’s ideas and concepts of the original surrounding identity and purpose while showcasing some of the most impressive visuals and cinematography ever put to film. Ryan Gosling is able to carry the film completely as Officer K and Harrison Ford’s return as Rick Deckard is perhaps even more satisfying than his return as Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Also, Ana De Armas might be objectively the most beautiful woman on the planet! I could have done with a shorter length and without Jared Leto’s presence whatsoever, but Blade Runner 2049 is still a great case of a dangerous stunt being performed perfectly. Even if Denis Villeneuve ultimately regrets taking the mantle from Ridley Scott’s original cult classic, this is still an example of a legacy sequel done right and he should have nothing to be ashamed about the end results of this whatsoever.

3.) Prisoners

For many film fans out there, this was likely their first exposure to Denis Villeneuve. Prisoners is a dark, bleak and depressing look on child abduction and parents facing their absolute worst fear of losing their only children. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhal give incredible performances here, Roger Deakin’s cinematography is absolutely impeccable, and the mystery behind who kidnap their children is able to keep you guessing and have you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. Btw, NO, the ending is NOT ambiguous and should be common knowledge that it got resolved! Even with a runtime of two hours and thirty three minutes, Prisoners makes for an incredibly intense and gripping thriller that will have viewers understand the bleak reality of parents not always being there for their kids and the lengths they will go through to save them. This was admittedly my first Denis Villeneuve film that I watched and man, what an introduction that was!

2.) Dune: Part Two

If Dune: Part One acted as Villeneuve setting the training wheels on his bike in motion, Dune: Part Two sees him being able to successfully take those training wheels off and pushed that bike down the hill with good graces. Nearly all that set up that amounted in Part One has immensely satisfying pay offs in Part Two. The action and set pieces are taking to a whole new level, every single member of it’s talented, stacked cast get their own moment to shine, the cinematography is absolutely jaw dropping and makes the IMAX experience 100% worth it, and it’s able to push all the right buttons on making a perfect sequel, instantly comparable to the likes of The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers, and The Dark Knight. This is an instant sci-fi classic that will likely go down as one of the best cinematic experiences that I along with others will have all throughout 2024. Even if it’s not quite my favorite film of Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two will likely go on to be his most successful film to date and one that shall get the attention of the remaining moviegoing audience that aren’t yet familiar with his name.

1.) Arrival

It’s quite fascinating how Villeneuve’s recent comments about how he encourages longer films nowadays and doesn’t encourage dialogue in films when perhaps his best film to date is Arrival, a film that’s not only a slim 116 minutes long but is the best film about language that I’ve ever seen. Despite those odd comments, this still remains one of the best, riveting, complex, and most emotionally satisfying sci-fi films I’ve seen in the past decade. A film that at it’s heart is not only about language and communication but also about the whole world coming together to prevent the worst possible outcome between the human race and extraterrestrial intelligence and encouraging only the best one imaginable. Amy Adams gives an absolutely powerhouse performance alongside her fellow cast members, Denis Villeneuve’s direction has never been better than it has been here, it’s exploration of communication and how to respond to other alien species is fantastic, and it has one of the most beautiful scores for a film I’ve ever heard. Plus, if you don’t get a little misty eyed by the end, you are a robot. Brilliantly directed, written, and acted, Arrival is Denis Villeneuve’s best film to date and one of the best sci-fi films I’ve ever seen period.

Dune: Part Two (2024) Early Movie Review: Denis Villeneuve To The Rescue

AdamLeave a comment

There are times to where being a fan of cinema is difficult! There are times to where there are so many duds and whimpers that get released simultaneously that you wonder how much more you can take! How much time and money are you willing to spend to watch a motion picture that’s not even good enough to be a simple three out of four star flick! In the case of films kicking off in the first two months of 2024, I don’t think I can recall a year that has gotten off to such a worst start, so much so that the only film that I would give a solid three out of four star recommendation to is….Lisa Frankenstein of all things.

Night Swim started off 2024 with the exact OPPOSITE feeling I had walking out of 2023 with M3GAN, Mean Girls was a painfully mediocre musical that didn’t do it’s source material justice, Bob Marley One Love was a safe, disposable, by-the-numbers bio pic, The Beekeeper and Argylle had their moments but they got way more overly complicated than they had any right to be, and everyone knows how much of a trainwreck Madame Web was. There is also one movie that hurt me dearly that I can’t post my review of yet because I’m not sure I’m allow to because there’s been no review embargo for it thus far.

Suffice to say, movies quite suck right now, even for someone that tries to be as optimistic about them as possible. Thankfully, we have the great Denis Villeneuve here to safe us all with his outstanding follow-up to the very good Dune: Part One with Dune: Part Two, a film which by the way wasn’t even suppose to come out last year but got pushed back due to the strikes. Regardless of the timing of it’s release, Dune: Part Two is exactly what fans hoped it would be and so much more!

If Dune: Part One acted as Villeneuve setting the training wheels on his bike in motion, Dune: Part Two sees him being able to successfully take those training wheels off and pushed that bike down the hill with good graces. Nearly all that set up that amounted in Part One has immensely satisfying pay offs in Part Two, the action and set pieces are taking to a whole new level, every single member of it’s stacked cast get their moment to shine, and I can’t recall a film in recent memory that such stellar cinematography that it 100% makes the whole experience worth seeing in IMAX. This is an instant sci-fi classic that will likely go down as one of the best cinematic experiences that I along with others will have all throughout 2024.

Premise: Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

What is made the most apparent about Dune: Part Two is how much Denis Villeneuve clearly understood the assignment with his second trip in the world of Dune. He knew exactly the plot threads that he had established in Part One that needed to have immense payoff in Part Two. With the first film taking the majority of it’s runtime to establish the lore, world building, and who these characters are, the second film shows you manages to deepen all of that and show you just everything that the world of Dune is capable off. That’s not to say that everything is tied up into a complete bow exactly by the time two and a half hours has flown by, but it’s clear the kind of story that Villeneuve left hanging in the last one is able to be continue and reached a definite conclusion in this one. This definitely makes for a perfect case as to why not only splitting Dune into two movies was actually justified but it also acted as a necessary evil.

I’m sure there will be plenty of folks claiming that Dune: Part Two is to Dune: Part One what The Empire Strikes Back was to the original Star Wars. While that is an 100% accurate comparison, it’s able to learn the “right” lessons from that game changing sci-fi masterpiece that came out in 1980. It’s not only bigger, better, and bolder than it’s predecessor because of how “dark” it is, but because it’s able to use an unconventional structure of storytelling to push all the right buttons on making a perfect sequel. Dune: Part Two is able to challenge it’s characters, expand upon the mythos and lore, and deliver the kind of visuals and set pieces in all the ways that the first one was unable to provide, while making for a completely mesmerizing and memorable theater experience in it’s own rights. It’s not trying to be overly dark for the sake of it, it’s just trying to stand out by pushing measures in filmmaking that only Dune: Part Two could ever provide.

Of course, we once again follow Paul Atreides, played perfectly by Timothée Chalamet, right where we left off in his journey from Part One. Still carried by all that burden from trying to avenge his father’s death and his family’s legacy from the Harkonnen, we see Paul being pushed beyond his measures to stop the conspirators from messing up his life and future even further. While he now has new allies with his new love in Chani and the Fremen, it’s ultimately himself that has to make the tough decisions throughout. Tough decisions that might put an end to the terrible future he constantly sees in his dreams but might come at the expense of those he loves and the overall fate of the universe.

It’s the type of conflict that Paul and the other characters have that makes each choice they make all the more intriguing. Similar to The Empire Strikes Back (I promise this is the last comparisons I will make with that), Dune: Part Two knows the best way to make the stakes more personal is to constantly put it’s own characters in constant peril throughout it’s entire runtime. After all, during a time of war, desperate times call for desperate measures. What you do in the short run could absolutely impact you in the best and worst ways in the long run.

Much like last year’s Oppenheimer, it’s incredible just how much the effort of the entire cast and crew working through the picture is clearly shown on the big screen. Once again, letting every single penny of it’s 100 million plus budget feel properly used on the big screen. This has easily one of the best, most talented, and quite frankly hottest talented ensembles for a film that I’ve ever seen. Regardless, of how big or small their roles are, they are all able to stand out in their own way.

While Timothée Chalamet was solid in Part One, he’s on a completely different level here, feeling much more free willing and unhinged in his performance. His screen presence is felt every single time he steps in front of the camera, giving the perfect kind of energy and depth needed to carry a picture with some of the best and most acclaimed actors surrounding him. A lot of that has to do with Part Two being able to explore that darker side with Paul as he is forced to make decisions as he takes his big steps into becoming a war leader, the decisions that he seemed unwilling to make in the first one. As much as Chalament nailed playing the typical pretty white boy role in the past, he is able to come to his own here as being an absolute movie star that can carry his own presence and even be great in action sequences. Between the commercial success of Wonka and the likely success of this, I would expect his agent’s phones are gonna be ringing like crazy come next Monday.

Making for the perfect equal to Chalamet’s Paul is Zendaya’s Chani. There’s a strong argument to make that she is basically the beating heart of the story. She not only has a role that feels much more expanded this time around but the arc that Chani goes through is the direct reflection of what Paul has, being put in a difficult place during war that may cost those they love for victory. She shares perfect chemistry with Chalamet and makes for one of the most compelling on-screen romances in recent memory. It honestly made me realize just how much I miss these kind of romance stories that don’t resonate much in most mainstream franchises today.

The rest of the returning cast of the first one are just as great to see again as before. Rebecca Ferguson continues to be a force to be reckoning with as she always is in every movie that she is in, Josh Brolin as Gurney takes a while to come into the picture but that energy that Brolin brings is still present, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban is giving more screen time than before, and Javier Bardem not only seems like he’s having the most fun out of everyone but he has surprisingly great comedic timing throughout the film. I could have used a bit more of Stellan Skarsgard as The Baron though.

In terms of the new players, they all own their own weight completely and fits perfectly along with the rest of the cast. Christopher Walken is completely buyable as the great Emperor of the film, being able to make the role more of his own than I imagine the character was in the books. Florence Pugh is equally great as the Emperor’s daughter, at times feeling like the narrator or guiding viewpoint of the antagonists of the film. Lea Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, and Anya Taylor-Joy might not get as much screentime as some might expect but they absolutely sell their roles with the limited screen time they are given. The biggest stand out of the newcomer is Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha. Butler kills every moment that he is given throughout the film, perfectly combing the mix of being charismatic, menacing, and an absolute blast to watch whenever he is on screen. As a matter of fact, there’s about a 15 to 20 minute period where the film focuses perfectly on him and took time away from the main character and I did not care one bit. That right there should tell you all you need to know about how awesome Butler is as a main bad guy of Feyd-Rautha.

From a technical component, words are not enough to describe how much of a beautifully crafted and well made film this is. There is not a single categories of filmmaking on display that is not worth a nomination for next year’s Oscars. The visuals are absolutely breathtaking with not a single flat shot to be found here, the sound design is impeccable and first perfectly with each individual scene, the editing is the exact definition of Oscar-calibar, each action set piece is treated with incredibly impressive fight choreography and jaw dropping sequences (the biggest stand outs being the first sequence in the desert, Feyd-Rautha’s ceremony introduction, and the final 45 minutes in general), and Hans Zimmer is even able to outdo himself with a score that is as captivating and chill-inducing as before.

While everyone on the creative team deserves all the credit in the world, a special shout-out has to be given to cinematographer Greig Fraser. Fraser has already done amazing work from behind the camera with the likes of Zero Dark Thirty, Rogue One, and The Batman but it’s his work in both of these two Dune movies that have stood out the most for me. These films would not be as good as they were if they were unable to let it’s visuals and imagery do the majority of the talking (and that’s not just because of Villeneuve’s recent “anti-dialogue” comments). After all, it’s the overall look and feel of the world of Dune itself that helps differentiate it from the rest of the sci-fi genre out there. Take that a way and these new Dune films would not be what they are. I know it’s early in 2024 but I would be shocked if I see a film that is as beautiful to look at as Dune: Part Two, which should make that Oscar a slam dunk for Mr. Fraser.

Dune: Part Two is just about as good as it could be regardless of any way you look at it. If you look at it as being the right follow-up to Part One that leaves seasonings for a possible third film with Dune: Messiah, you will get that. If you look at it as being the saving grace of 2024 in cinema thus far, you will get that. Heck, if you are just looking for a great sci-fi flick regardless of how it compares to other sci-fi flicks of it’s kind, you will get that as well.

There are certainly nits you can pick such as the first 15 minutes being a tad slow, some actors not getting as much time as you expect, and a wrap-up that doesn’t so much act as a definite end and more leaves an opening to Dune: Messiah. Even so, this is the cinema experience as it’s finest. The kind of experience that is fading away by each passing day. I don’t know if Dune: Part Two will act as the beginning of the end of cinema as we know it or the start of something more hopeful and uplifting for the future but no doubt, those that are excited for this upcoming picture will surely get their money’s worth.

Rock on, Denis Villeneuve! Just please provide less controversial takes for the near future, please!

Other comments:

  • Yeah, I don’t agree with Villeneuve’s comments on dialogue but I’m not gonna destroy him for it either. He just needs to be like Christopher Nolan and not let his ego get the better of him.

  • Austin Butler as sure come a long way from being that boyfriend character in Zoey 101 that no one liked to playing an antagonist that forces Drax the Destroyer to kiss his feet.

  • It really is impressive how more organic the pacing feels here compared to Part One. Even the slow moments didn’t feel as outrageously slow to me as they did in Part One.

  • And btw, I’m not joking about that prior point. Austin Butler literally forces Dave Bautista to kiss his feet and that is so satisfying to see. No offense to Drax!

  • I’m definitely curious to watching these two films back-to-back the way they were initially intended and see if the five and a half hour complete experience makes it all for the better.

  • And for those wondering, yes, Dune: Part One would have found a spot on my Best Movies of 2021 list from either the honorable mentions category or my main top 10. I still have my issues with the pacing but no doubt, it’s a great cinematic achievement with the kind of visuals and world building I always love for my sci-fi. Rock on again, Denis!