Acclaimed Dune director Denis Villeneuve discusses how a key feature of television’s “Golden Age” is damaging the creative potential that movies can offer. Villeneuve is known for his work on the crime thriller Sicario, sci-fi epics Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, and the 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune. While his movie only covered the first half of Herbert’s book, the director adapted the second into the new release Dune: Part Two.
With Dune: Part Two set to land in theaters soon, Villeneuve opened up to The Times about how he feels a specific element brought about by modern television has had a detrimental effect on recent movies. Pinpointing dialogue as his least-favorite element of the writing process, the director stated he feels visual imagery is what leaves a stronger impact on audiences, and higher-ups at studios have caused damage to filmmaking by trying to incorporate memorable dialogue rather than letting what is presented on screen speak for itself. Check out Villeneuve’s full explanation below:
Frankly, I hate dialogue. Dialogue is for theatre and television. I don’t remember movies because of a good line, I remember movies because of a strong image. I’m not interested in dialogue at all. Pure image and sound, that is the power of cinema, but it is something not obvious when you watch movies today. Movies have been corrupted by television.
In a perfect world, I’d make a compelling movie that doesn’t feel like an experiment but does not have a single word in it either. People would leave the cinema and say, ‘Wait, there was no dialogue?’ But they won’t feel the lack.
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Denis Villeneuve’s Television Vs Movie Critique Is Part Of A Larger Discussion
TV Has Borrowed From Movies As Well
Villeneuve isn’t the first director to discuss what has been harming theatrical releases, nor is it his first time commenting on the issue. While the so-called Golden Age of Television has led to the rise of creatives and innovations that movies have utilized, including the VFX tool the Volume, many viewers and critics have pointed out where the technology has been misapplied. As such, Villeneuve’s comments are understandable, and not the only complaints surrounding movies pulling inspiration from television.
However, the opposite of Villeneuve’s critique can also be said, with television’s attempts to replicate what works in feature films causing damage. Especially in the current streaming age’s lack of a set schedule, more shows have been commissioned as limited series as opposed to longer format shows, especially within franchises such as the MCU and Star Wars. A frequent battle with these productions has been capturing the feel of their big-budget movie counterparts, through either its effects falling under scrutiny, or the pacing not taking advantage of the medium’s multi-episode format.
Villeneuve’s complaints about television’s effects on movies aren’t unfamiliar and are only one perspective in a larger discussion. As studios have consolidated intellectual properties, prioritized franchise growth, and promoted the creation of streaming archives they can add to and remove from at a whim, there has been a battle about what stories work best for each medium. While there is merit to Villeneuve‘s desire to see visual storytelling remain a priority, it is only one piece of a much more difficult puzzle.
Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film that covers the novel’s events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe’s fate.
- Director
- Denis Villeneuve
- Release Date
- March 1, 2024
- Studio(s)
- Legendary Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Writers
- Denis Villeneuve , Jon Spaihts
- Cast
- Timothee Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Rebecca Ferguson
- Franchise(s)
- Dune
- Sequel(s)
- Dune: Part Three
- prequel(s)
- Dune
- Budget
- $122 Million
