Over the past year and a half, there have been many complications for the film industry. Along with delays to filming and production, restrictions have caused movie theatres worldwide to remain closed for months on end, only re-opening when safe with limited capacity. Due to this, the release dates of many films were pushed forward and postponed until they could receive a more normal theatrical release.
As more theatres open around the world, the release dates of more and more films have been set. 2022 and the latter half of 2021 will see many exciting and long anticipated films released in theatres. In some cases, more than one major release will be happening in the same weekend. Such is the case with October 22, 2021, when Dune and The French Dispatch will both premiere in theatres.
Both of these films have been hotly anticipated by fans for a long time. They are directed by acclaimed directors, feature all-star casts--both of them including Timothee Chalamet--and promise visuals perfect for the big screen. While they will both be worth a watch, only one can be watched first on that busy premiere day of October 22. At least the choice has been made slightly easier to make by the fact that Last Night In Soho, Edgar Wright's latest film which was slated to premiere the same day, has been moved to October 29.
Dune
Dune is the latest adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. The most famous previous adaptation was the 1984 movie by David Lynch, often considered a cult classic. In the story, Paul Atreides is a gifted young man who is revealed to have a great destiny. His father, Duke Leto Atreides, takes Paul and his mother Lady Jessica to the dangerous planet of Arrakis, where he has accepted stewardship. Also known as Dune, Arrakis is the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, "the spice." The spice is a drug that, among other things, extends human life, provides super-human levels of thought and prescience, and makes interstellar travel possible and practical. The stewardship on the planet is a risky one, and the journey sets off a great battle.
Timothee Chalamet is starring as Paul, with Star Wars' Oscar Isaac playing his father Leto and Rebecca Ferguson playing his mother. The fantastic cast also includes Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. The film is directed by Denis Villeneuve, a highly acclaimed French-Canadian filmmaker known for directing movies such as Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049. Villeneuve also co-wrote the film alongside Jon Spaihts, who wrote The Darkest Hour and Doctor Strange, and Eric Roth, known for writing films such as A Star is Born and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Famed composer Hans Zimmer composed the score for the movie.
The trailer promises a science-fiction film of epic proportions. The visuals are stunning, with beautiful sets and massive sandy landscapes alongside an epic score. There are also some impressive special effects on display, with the giant sandworm being particularly memorable. Dune should look and sound amazing on the big screen, and appears to be a theatrical experience that cannot be missed. Those who love grandiose visuals and intricate science-fiction stories should absolutely watch this film in theatres.
The French Dispatch
Acclaimed director Wes Anderson, known for his distinctive style and films such as Moonrise Kingdom, Isle of Dogs, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, wrote and directed this upcoming comedy-drama movie. The movie is described as a love letter to journalists, inspired by Anderson's love of the New Yorker. The French Dispatch is set at the outpost of a fictional American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city. Filmed in France, the film centers on three storylines, all tales published in the titular French Dispatch.
The French Dispatch features a massive ensemble cast as famous actors, some with major roles, and others with smaller ones. The cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Lea Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothee Chalamet, Tony Revolori, Lyna Khoudri, Jeffrey Wright, Alex Lawther, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Liev Schreiber, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Elisabeth Moss, Christoph Waltz, Stephen Park, and many more.
The trailer displays Anderson's distinctive visual style, notable for its symmetry and use of tableaus. The eye is captured by the juxtaposition of scenes in black and white and scenes in bursts of saturated color, sure to be stunning to look at on the big screen. The film clearly will have Anderson's specific brand of offbeat humor, quirky energy, and emotional resonance. The French Dispatch is an ideal choice for fans of Anderson's previous work, or generally for those who like highly stylized visuals and off-beat humor, and have a love for the press and journalism.
Dune and The French Dispatch will all be released on October 22 2021 in theatres.