Dave Bautista gave a glowing review of the highly anticipated sci-fi epic Dune. The film, in which Bautista plays an antagonist, was set to premiere at the end of last year but was pushed back because of the pandemic. Now, Dune is slated to premiere on October 1 in both theaters and on HBO Max.
Dune is the first installment of a planned two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel saga of the same name. Dune follows Paul Atreides, the gifted son of a noble family in an interstellar feudal society, as he travels to the galaxy’s most dangerous planet, Dune, to protect the most precious resource and most valuable asset in existence. Meanwhile, Paul and his family must deal with war, treachery, dangerous creatures, and family feuds fueled by greed. The film was directed by Denis Villeneuve, who is also known for directing visually stunning sci-fi films such as Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival. In the film, Dave Bautista portrays Glossu Rabban, a violent and sadistic warlord. The film also features a laundry list of other big names, including Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and Zendaya.
In a recent interview with /Film to promote his upcoming film Army of the Dead, Dave Bautista called Dune “one of the most beautiful films that people have ever seen.” Bautista spoke about being in awe of Villeneuve’s ability to create such expansive worlds without detracting from his attention to the performances. In comparison to Bautista’s own directing capabilities, he remarks that Villeneuve’s talents aren’t even comprehensible.
[The] world that he’s created is so far over my head. It’s so beautiful and different, and a lot of times dark and strange. But it’s something I never could have imagined. I just don’t have that mind. When I think about things, and when I think about directing, it’s all very contained, based on simple stories, a lot of times very simple and inspiring stories. And for someone to see something and create a world this big, a galaxy, a universe this big, it’s something that doesn’t comprehend, doesn’t compute in my brain. But it’s weird that he can do both. [Denis Villeneuve] can create these huge epic worlds and scenes, but at the same time just focus on the most simple things about a performance. He’s just a special guy, he’s got a special focus, and man, he’s a brilliant storyteller. Dune is special. I think people are going to be blown away. It’s going to be one of the most beautiful films that people have ever seen. But I think that people who are just diehard fans of Dune, of the novels, they’re going to be blown away. Because they don’t have anything, really, to reference in relation to the books. Now they will. They’ll have that visual reference. He took these characters, he took this world, and he’s taken them off the page and put them on screen. It’s epic.
The former pro-wrestler and bodybuilder has also worked with Villeneuve on Blade Runner 2049, which released in 2017. Though Bautista only played a small role, a Nexus-8 replicant named Sapper Morton, he received a lot of love and recognition for his performance. Bautista credits his role in Blade Runner 2049 with opening lots of doors for him, doors that wouldn’t have been opened if it weren’t for Villeneuve’s dedication to Bautista’s performance and character. Bautista fondly remembered having deep conversations about simple things like how his Blade Runner character put on his glasses—that’s the kind of attention to detail that Bautista claims sets Villeneuve, and Dune, apart from his peers.
Though the delay in Dune’s premiere is one of the big negatives for film lovers to come from the pandemic, it is certainly not without its upsides. The delay has given Villeneuve more time to make sure the film is perfect and audiences more places to access the film. Although, most would say that, if it’s feasible, making a trip to the theater later this year is the best way to watch what may be the most beautiful films people have ever seen.
Source: /Film