New writing and the ear

Read me at Defector!

I have an article up over at Defector! I wrote about how weird the Dune books get and considered the challenges of bringing them to the screen, how that’s changed in the CGI era, and how unfilmable some of Herbert’s ideas continue to be. I think it’s a ton of fun and I hope you’ll give it a read. 

Here’s the link: https://defector.com/dune-novels-ranked-by-unfilmability 

While we’re talking Dune, I have an observation about the new movie that I don’t have anything else to do with so I’m going to include it here. Obligatory spoiler warning for a 60-year-old book!

There’s a shot of Baron Harkonnen near the very end of Dune: Part 2. Paul has won the battle of Arrakeen, entered the throne room, and killed him. He commands that the Baron’s body be given to the desert. Soon after, Villeneuve cuts to a shot of dunes at twilight. There’s a black shape lying on the sand. As he pushes in, it comes into focus—it’s the Baron’s body, his alabaster skin now swarming with black ants. Villeneuve pushes in closer on the face, not to focus on the eyes or mouth, but the ear. The ants crawl in and out of it as Villeneuve pushes in uncomfortably close.

I found this shot very moving. It is, to my mind, about as clear a reference as Villeneuve could make to David Lynch. In Lynch’s long catalogue of indelible images, none contains his entire project and sensibility like the shot of the rotting ear Jeffrey (Kyle MacLachlan) finds early in Blue Velvet. (The only other contender is Laura Palmer body, dead and wrapped in plastic). 

I love it so much. I have Dune and Star Wars and Campbellian Hero’s Journey crap on my mind so forgive me but here is Jeffrey’s threshold moment. Within his picket-fence world, dark and dangerous things are happening and it’s utterly captivating. From the moment he lays eyes on this disgusting rotting flesh, Jeffrey has pierced the veil and his fate is sealed. Mysteries surround us, if only we care to open our eyes. 

David Lynch’s Dune was released in 1984. It failed. From what I understand, this was a profound disappointment for him. I don’t think his version is particularly good, but it’s made with care and his own homages to David Lean speak to his deep admiration for a filmmaker whose work his own differed from so wildly. It also nearly derailed his career. According to MacLachlan, they were set to roll right into shooting Blue Velvet once Dune wrapped but its disastrous reception scared the money men and it took years to get back on track. I also find MacLachlan’s own gratitude for Lynch working with him again really powerful. 

I don’t know what Villeneuve thinks of Lynch in general. I’ve never seen him talk about him in interviews. If he has let me know. But it’s really sweet to see him take time in his hundred-million dollar production to pay attention to one of the greats who came before and ran aground in the same rocky currents.