Since its release, Dune has become one of the most celebrated films of the last few years, garnering both commercial success and critical acclaim. While the sci-fi epic recently landed Oscar nominations in nearly every category, director Denis Villeneuve missed out on a Best Director nod —but the Canadian filmmaker isn't bothered by the snub.
Dune received ten nods, including one for Best Picture, and became one of the most nominated films at the 94th Academy Awards, only second to Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog, which nabbed twelve. After the news broke, multiple people — including Dune actor Josh Brolin— took to social media to voice their disappointment over Villeneuve getting shut out of the best director race.
However, the 54-year-old filmmaker is just glad the film has received so much praise. "Frankly, if you had told me a few months ago that we’d be in the Oscar race, that we’d have that kind of recognition, I would have not believed you. It’s really moving," Villeneuve said during an interview with MovieMaker. "If you’re nominated, it’s a beautiful thing…I don’t take things for granted, and I was deeply pleased with what we got."
Dune, released both theatrically and on HBO Max in October 2021, is the first of a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel of the same name. The story follows Paul Atreides (Timotheé Chalamet), as he gets thrust along with his family into a war for the planet Arrakis, a dangerous land that is the only source of the universe's most valuable substance, the spice. In addition to Chalamet and Brolin, Dune stars Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa, among others.
Villeneuve's is the second film adaptation of Dune, following David Lynch's 1984 feature, which was a commercial and critical failure. Other adaptations include a three-part television miniseries written and directed by John Harrison in the early 2000s. The series was better received than Lynch's adaptation and became one of the highest-rated programs ever to be broadcasted on the Sci Fi Channel.
With Villeneuve out of the Oscar race for best director, this year's nominees include Steven Spielberg for West Side Story, Jane Campion for ThePower of the Dog, Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza, Ryusuke Hamaguchi for Drive My Car, and Kenneth Branagh for Belfast. However, Villeneuve did land nominations in the category at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and Directors Guild of America Awards.
The 94th Academy Awards air on March 27, 2022, and Dune is now available on digital platforms.
Source: MovieMaker
