Only the learned can perceive the merit, goes the saying. Among the vast pool of talent in Hollywood, only a few have managed to bring across a resounding impact not only in terms of the box office but also by catapulting into everyday pop culture. The latest entrant to that hallowed fame is the cinematic genius and the 21st-century Dune adaptation’s director, Denis Villeneuve, whose worth has found immense praise from fellow film pioneer, Steven Spielberg.
In an interactive session, the Jurassic Park director opened his heart out for his Sicario visionary. The duo, whose contributions to modern cinema stay immeasurable, may not seek to compete with one another. However, the latter’s vision has caught the attention of the legendary filmmaker, who felt stunned and in awe of the incredible work that the Timothée Chalamet starrer brought out on the big screens.
Steven Spielberg makes Denis Villeneuve a part of his acclaimed list
Putting his best foot forward, Denis Villeneuve left nothing to fate as he spilled his artistic vision, cinematography, and exceptional visual storytelling all over Dune: Part Two. The critical and viewer-acclaimed movie went down as a masterpiece. Taking note of the same, Steven Spielberg, in talks with the director on DGA’s The Director’s Cut podcast (via Deadline), counted the movie as “one of the most brilliant science fiction films I have ever seen”.
The 77-year-old further heaped praises on the director and his filmography with the highest acclaim as he counted him as the “newest member” among the likes of legendary filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Wes Anderson.
There are filmmakers who are the builders of worlds. It’s not a long list and we know who a lot of them are. Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro.
Spielberg’s remarks came after he centered his attention and fell in love with the harmony that the Blade Runner 20249 director managed to breathe into a film revolving around a desert. In particular, he highlighted the scene which involved Timothée Chalamet riding a sandworm and put it as “one of the greatest things I have ever seen”.
How Dune: Part Two made its way to a deserving success
Denis Villeneuve began his march to adapt Frank Herbert’s expansive Dune novels, labeled as the best sci-fi product ever, back in the 2020s. Featuring a highly detailed and intricate production design, he released the first of the two movies in 2021. The bold adaptation managed to condense the lengthy proceedings of the novels into a timeline fit enough for cinematic consumption and raked in more than $400 million worldwide initially, not accounting for the re-release.
Dune: Part Two carried on seamlessly right after the happenings of the first movie. Moreover, it doubled down on iconic sequences and lore expansion, pushing the film well past $700 million. The resounding acclaim also paved the way for the director to officially announce that a third movie is in the works and will be based on the Dune Messiah novel and mark the end of the story for Timothée Chalamet Paul Atreides.
Dune: Part Two is currently streaming on Max and is also available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Hulu.
