Eternals

Score:  A-

Directed by Chloe Zhao

Starring Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani

Running time: 157 minutes

Rated PG-13

Long Story Short:  Eternals introduces a host of new heroes in this post-Avengers Marvel world, and these guys are quite literally heavenly.  With a sprawling, fantastical premise and so many characters, a fine balance was necessary; many critics assert that it failed to find it.  But I was impressed by this true team - no individual stands above the rest - and Oscar-winning director Zhao's focus on them, through whom the action and everything else becomes more engrossing and specific.

Thousands of years ago, just as human civilizations began to emerge, a group of ten beings called Eternals were sent to Earth to protect our ancestors from alien predators.  The Eternals hunted these aliens for many years, and remained on Earth through the present day, disguised as regular people.  When two of the Eternals, Sersi (Chan) and Sprite (McHugh), are attacked, they suspect that the pattern they've followed for thousands of year has been disrupted.  As they reunite with the other Eternals, Sersi learns more that challenges what she thinks she knows.  Having settled in among the humans, Sersi is shaken awake to the stakes involved not just for the planet but for worlds beyond.

Eternals, despite being part of the Marvel movie universe I love, shares many elements of movies that don't tend to work well; but somehow, it does work here.  It's similar to the Avengers - and especially Infinity War and Endgame - in that properly balancing a large number of characters, the background (which in this case is entirely new), and the current plot is enormously challenging.  The big risk is that so many elements will end up as window dressing within a busy but incoherent two-and-a-half hours.  Fortunately, Marvel has continued to land the most appropriate directors, from the hidden gems (Joe and Anthony Russo) to bigger names - in this case, recent Best Director Oscar winner, Chloe Zhao.  I haven't seen her other work yet, sadly, though I do know that it is almost in the opposite of a Marvel blockbuster.  Zhao and the screenwriters wisely stick to the Marvel tradition of focusing on the hero characters while balancing the action and plot pretty effectively; at least, in my opinion.

Marvel movies have become associated with their interconnectedness; not just returning characters, but narratives that run through a dozen and more films.  Well, Eternals is about the least connected Marvel movie I've seen in a long time.  I actually missed the main connection while watching it, but I can safely say it doesn't affect your enjoyment or understanding of the movie.  The reason it's relatively standalone is that the premise starts literally at the beginning - how Earth was formed and humans developed (Marvel's fictional version, of course).  Eternals doesn't bombard you with all the details at the beginning, though; you get just enough to start, and then a combination of flashbacks and a bit of present-day dialogue fills in the rest of the picture.  The movie's first action scene follows the initial exposition; it and a few other skirmishes throughout are admittedly ho-hum, by Marvel standards.  But there is more tension in the action scenes than usual, as several heroes die in the film, a rarity for Marvel; despite their raw power, there is a clear sense of their vulnerability.  An action scene in the Amazon is particularly good, with multiple phases, unpredictability, and emotion.

The crowd of heroes that make up the Eternals - ten in all - are a charismatic bunch, helping to increase concern for their fates in those action scenes.  While there are no true standouts, most give solid to very good performances, and Zhao uses their contrasting personalities to maintain energy and variety through the long running time while minimizing the downside of not being able to focus on any one for too long.  Sersi (Chan) and Ikaris (Madden) bring a more traditional romance to the Marvel universe, though one clearly shaped by their powers and mission.  Kingo (Nanjiani) and Phastos (Henry) bring the comedic element though in distinct forms, while Sprite (McHugh) and Druig (Keoghan) bring sharp contrarian personalities.  And there's even more, if somewhat overshadowed: Thena (Jolie) brings both power and vulnerability, and Makkari (Ridloff) confidently represents the differently-abled.  The plot is interesting and, in the main, straightforward enough to follow without straining (I got lost on a few supporting elements, but it didn't matter).  Yet it is the journey of following these characters, as they go from ancient alien saviors to present-day individuals immersed in humanity, that drives the movie.  We don't get any images of civilians fleeing the crumbling of a city (though there is an epic CGI creation to behold); Zhao instead trusts the audience to see the global - and galactic - stakes through her ten heroes.  The final battle, reminiscent of a great one in Infinity War, pits the heroes against their own motivations more than any external enemy.  You can quibble with the execution of this scene or that one, the pacing, and so on, but Zhao truly directed Eternals in just the way it had to be.

***

Eternals brings yet another dimension to the Marvel movie universe: a historic, almost divine one.  I am glad that they let this one stand pretty much on its own, post-credits sequences aside.  And despite the length, I am also even more interested than I usually am to see this one again in the theater.  Critics have savaged this movie, which I think is mostly because they are tired of Marvel movies and are eager to pounce at the slightest opportunity to be negative.  It certainly is not a perfect film, but if they actually gave it a fair chance with an open mind, I feel more would see it the way I do.  I encourage you to try it for yourself, whether or not you are a Marvel fan!

* By http://www.impawards.com/2021/eternals_ver3.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67750433

Dune

 

Score:  A-

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Starring Timothy Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Mamoa

Running time:

Rated R

Long Story Short:  Dune marks both the latest adaptation of a classic sci-fi novel and the newest film from one of my favorite directors, Denis Villeneuve.  Especially considering the challenge involved, Villeneuve and his impressive cast and crew succeed remarkably well in being both faithful to the source and also cinematically rewarding in its richly created world.  I wish that they had trusted the audience to figure the story out without hammering the plot, but those who haven't read the novel recently may appreciate the help. Highly recommended for theater viewing.

In a distant future in which humans have spread across the stars, the House Atreides is ordered by the Emperor to move from its home planet to the desolate but important desert world, Arrakis.  Atreides is led by the Duke Leto (Isaac), who is determined not just to continue harvesting an essential, valuable resource on the planet, but also to make peace with the long-subjugated native people there.  He is joined by his concubine, Lady Jessica (Ferguson), who trains his son in the mysterious ways of the sisterhood known as Bene Gesserit.  However, House Harkonnen, rival to Atreides and former rulers of Arrakis, are infuriated with the change in the balance of power.  As Atreides adjust to their strange new world, they must reckon with both friends and foes from afar and close at hand.

Dune, the latest film adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel, is an entertaining, stylish, and intriguing work; nevertheless, due to the nature of the source material, it's also impossible to get it all right for both the fans and the newcomers.  The movie starts in just the right place, though: Denis Villeneuve, one of my favorite contemporary directors, was a perfect choice to make it.  There is a lot to unpack in Dune, the novel, but Villeneuve's mastery of big, awe-inspiring cinematic sights and sounds, making you truly feel like you are inhabiting the world in front of you, addresses its most critical element.  Sure enough, Villeneuve, the cinematographer and a host of production and effects artists capture the expanse of the desert world, one filled with wind-swept, sun-beaten vehicles, buildings, people and creatures.  Soaking these in, in the quieter moments, is actually even more impressive than the movie's action scenes.  There's also plenty of great sound, especially the Bene Gesserit "voice" and the colossal, booming movements of the tech. The soundtrack is also very good - Hans Zimmer is one of today's best composers - but I can't help but feel Villeneuve's former collaborator, Johann Johannsson, who tragically died a few years ago, would have made it even more special.

Dune is an adaptation - as many films are - but this one has bedeviled Hollywood for decades, such as 1984's infamous attempt.  I read the novel over the summer, since I knew Villeneuve would be directing the movie, and now I know why it's been so hard to adapt: there is a LOT in it (some parts of which are stylistically dissonant), much of it takes place in characters' thoughts, and, frankly, the book itself is uneven in quality (in my opinion).  The film mirrors the book in that the characters are hit or miss. My favorite by far is Lady Jessica, and I think they found the perfect actor in Rebecca Ferguson to play her.  She is truly the heart and soul of the story, at the intersection of the family aspects (mother of the main character), the political intrigue (concubine of the Duke), and the fantasy parts (a Bene Gesserit sister). Jessica - and Ferguson - is beautiful and entrancing, loyal and loving yet with as distinct and strong an agenda and interests as any other character.  Timothy Chalamet also does a good job in main role as Paul, portraying a gradual maturation rather than jumping suddenly into hero mode.  On the other hand, Jason Mamoa was a poor choice as Duncan Idaho, as well as the accompanying expansion and dumbing down of the role.  I also might have chosen someone more abrasive than Oscar Isaac for the Duke, though he does a fine job; Stellan Skarsgaard as the revolting villain is a better match.

Dune is made at such a high-level of quality, but I also couldn't help myself from thinking about what I would have done differently (although I take this itself as a positive sign; any movie that keeps me thinking later on is a good one).  I had the advantage of having recently read the novel, but selfishly I wish that the movie was more ambiguous, and even more atmospheric, versus the plot and action.  Too much is just stated outright, and one of the pleasures of the novel was sort of piecing things together for yourself; show, don't tell, and let the audience work on it!  The story is an important forerunner of much sci-fi/ fantasy to come (Star Wars, etc.) but the results of some of its familiar structures (e.g., "the Chosen One") have been done better by its successors.  So more emphasis on the sights and sounds of the world (courtesy of Villeneuve and his team's talents), and characters (played by an exceptional cast) speaking more natural dialogue - rather than exposition - would have been refreshing (to me).  Cut down on the action scenes, which are mostly referred to in passing in the novel, to make room.  Still, I'm mostly nitpicking; while you may recognize the outlines of this story, it's the details brought to life by the filmmakers that make this necessary viewing in a movie theater.

***

I'd been looking forward to seeing Dune - for longer than usual, thanks to the pandemic.  But, like Bond, I'm really glad that the studio didn't just dump it on streaming and bypass the theater (though Dune is also available now on streaming, too).  Those two films also felt similar to me in other ways, whether it's Hans Zimmer composing the music for both, a reaction of good-but-could-have-been-even-better, and darker than typical (but not dismal) tones.  Well, next up will be a return to my current favorite franchise, Marvel, with The Eternals.  It's also getting to the time of year where Oscar hopefuls should start showing up.  Stay safe, but head to the theater if you can for one of these big screen-optimized options!

* By http://www.impawards.com/2021/dune_ver16.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68273917