Jodorowsky's Dune review

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I'm not very good at reviewing documentaries, I feel, but here's another go at it with Jodorowsky's Dune.
Jodorowsky’s Dune is a documentary chronicling the epic failed journey of Alfonso Jodorowsky to adapt the science-fiction novel Dune to the big screen. Almost every member of cast and crew is adapted for-living actors talk to the camera, and dead actors have someone talking for them. Of the two bands making the music, one has a former member talking. The many artists are represented, some in person and others, not so much. One common thread throughout is how impassioned each of the speakers are about the project. The ambition of the project can be felt in every scene of this documentary, especially from Jodorowksy’s own talking. Whatever charm he had to bring his ambitious crew together is still present, and can be felt in his passionate speech. It’s clear the vision never left him, even if it’s now in pieces and has been for decades.

This results in the documentary being a surprisingly gripping piece of work. Whoever’s behind the camera is second to the creative vision being reconstructed on-screen, and the result is magical. Viewers are transported into the Parisian circle of the cast and crew of Dune. The shame of the film’s failure is made much more intense when the heart of the film can so clearly be felt, and this allows a decades-old disappointment to still feel fresh.

The visual aspect initially just shows photographs and drawings as would be expected of a documentary, but soon changes to animations of the storyboards. Even from these animations, the potential of the film can be felt, and the quality of the hoped for final product comes across even from these imaginings. The sketched lines are given life that is entirely different from a finished product, feeling more like the director’s imagination before it leaps into being.

This story of this failed adaptation is highly fascinating, and the powerful recollections of the people involved makes the story absolutely gripping. But even in the end, after the fall of Dune is recalled, there’s more to know. The influence of Dune begs for discussion, and proves possibly even more interesting than the story itself. When Lynch’s Dune is brought up, there’s humour in Jodorowsky’s surprise.

Dune, as directed by Jodorowsky, very much comes across like it could have been great, but unfortunately it was not meant to be. This fascinating, compelling, wonderfully entertaining documentary documents the process and lasting impact of the project, and stands tall as one of the year’s best films.

10/10