“Inevitable”: The movie Denis Villeneuve said was a “major influence” on ‘Dune’
The new sci-fi sequel, Dune: Part Two, is the kind of film that is so good that it makes everything else in Hollywood look that much worse. Even compared to the work of someone like Christopher Nolan, supposedly the messiah of contemporary cinema, Dune: Part Two from director Denis Villeneuve is a towering goliath that overshadows any epic the former has attempted to make.
Finishing off the second half of Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novel of the same name, Villeneuve’s sequel is all action, building from the foundations of the first film, which, in comparison, feels like it was entirely dialogue-driven. In the film, protagonist Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, steadily gains enough respect from the desert-dwelling Fremen that he becomes seen as their messiah, convincing them to rise up against their oppressors, the evil Harkonnen.
Being compared to The Empire Strikes Back in the fact that it doubles down on the style, tone and energy of the previous film in the franchise, Dune: Part Two very much changes the game with respect to how blockbuster cinema should be made in the future. When someone sets the bar this high in terms of size, scope and artistry, it’s difficult to go and watch a Marvel superhero flick and not be disappointed.
Part of the reason why Villeneuve’s film is so good is that, while being refreshingly original, it also feels like part of the fabric of classic cinema, pulling from so many other different cinematic sources. From Martin Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Christ to the anime classic Akira, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the history of cinema is plastered all over the sandy dunes of Villeneuve’s Arrakis.
Yet, there is one film that inspired the director more than any of the aforementioned flicks, with Villeneuve sitting down with the Truth and Movies podcast to discuss the influence of David Lean’s 1962 ‘Best Picture’ winner, Lawrence of Arabia.
When asked whether the film was a direct inspiration, the Canadian filmmaker responded: “Lawrence of Arabia is inevitable. I cannot pretend that it was not a major influence on the making of this film because the book itself, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, is a book that influenced Frank Herbert to write Dune”.
Written in 1926 by T. E. Lawrence, the book is an autobiographical account from the author regarding his time as a military advisor during the Arab Revolt of 1916 to 1918. Although Herbert has never stated that the book was a direct inspiration, there are several similarities that readers have long since noticed, noting that it was highly likely Herbert would have taken ideas from Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Recalling his experience watching Lean’s classic in the cinema, Villeneuve told the podcast, “It was one of the most powerful theatrical experiences of my life. It’s a masterclass of cinema language”.
Take a look at the trailer for Lean’s ‘Best Picture’ winner below.
