Javier Bardem, who portrayed Stilgar in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, only had a small supporting role in the first movie. Thankfully, he has a more significant presence in the sequel, making him one of the new fan-favorite characters to date.
With an Oscar-winning actor like Bardem, it’s impossible to watch him on screen and expect to easily forget his scenes. In fact, despite not being in a starring role, the Spanish-born star captivated the audience and truly left a lasting impression.
Javier Bardem’s Stilgar Commended By Fans
The Sietch of Sci-Fi from Twitter expressed admiration for Javier Bardem’s portrayal of Stilgar in Dune: Part Two. The fan remarked how humor was flawlessly incorporated into his scenes without being tacky.
“In all three of my screenings, he got the best reactions from the audience. He is genuinely funny, but in a way that fits so perfectly with the film’s tone. There is gravitas to his humorous moments. When he quotes the prophecy for everything that Paul does, it’s not a joke to him. It’s a reflection of his deepest beliefs.”
Acknowledging the teamwork between director Denis Villeneuve and Bardem in shaping Stilgar’s overall persona, the user saw it as a good way to establish the character’s inner motivations that will soon unfold in the next few scenes.
“Villeneuve’s and Bardem’s choice to make it funny for the audience is powerful to me. Playing it as a joke for the first two acts makes him seem like the nice, crazy uncle who rambles about religion after a few too many beers.”
Concluding the review on Bardem’s Stilgar as the most memorable character in Dune: Part Two, the source made an in-depth reflection of the figure’s representation in the sequel movie.
“When the third act hits, it becomes clear that there is nothing funny about it. The Holy War takes off under his leadership. Stilgar is such a poignant exploration of the problem of religious indoctrination, messianic worship and blindly following charismatic leaders.”
While some fans felt quite divisive about Stilgar and his sense of humor, others agreed with the original poster and claimed he had a couple of worthy scenes.
Javier Bardem Talks About Stilgar And Paul Atreides’ Relationship
For fans who have been scrolling on social media all day, you might have seen the Stilgar memes slowly making their way to the stream. Indeed, the figure has become a little parental to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.
In an interview with Movie IE, Javier Bardem talked a bit about Stilgar’s relationship with the young protagonist:
“There’s a feeling that I have that he may be the chosen one, but there must be some signs coming my way for me to believe strongly. It’s a nice relationship between a man who wants him to be and wishes him to be the person he’s supposed to be.”
The actor also pointed out Stilgar’s religious fanaticism, which is absolutely a contributing factor to his actions in the film.
Dune: Part Two is now showing in theaters.
