Film Review: A Sci-Fi Dream is Celebrated in ‘Jodorowsky’s Dune’

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CHICAGO – Should Alejandro Jodorowsky have been able to direct his psychedelic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune”, the results would’ve been less of our planet compared to films like “Blade Runner” or “Star Wars”. Prismatic spacecrafts and golden landscapes would have filled Jodorowsky’s mad canvas, as created by stargazing designers like Jean Giraud and H.R. Giger.

A famous actor/director, pleasantly plump in his later years, would have floated through the air, while another renowned artist shares his expensive cameo time with the image of a flaming giraffe. Inspired by the dynamism of science fiction book covers, “Dune” was also due to have an original soundtrack by Pink Floyd. Could such ambition actually have come true? The $5 million that the project failed to procure has prevented us from ever knowing. Until recently, Jodorowsky’s version of “Dune” remained a dream, a quixotic collision of transcendental imagination with multiplex intent. It is now shared with our world in this exhilarating documentary from Frank Pavich, framed as a tale of ambition vs. money.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

“Jodorowsky’s Dune” surpasses its cult audience to make new geeks outs of its viewers. Pavich’s film acutely assembles an endearing picture of its title visionary, an innocent filmmaker who expressed his love and freedom through the bonkers images in his features. He earned an audience especially with his films “El Topo” and “The Holy Mountain”, which are still celebrated in midnight screenings to this day. The success of these strange projects thus led him to “Dune”.

Sparked by desire to create a mind-opening experience that mixed multiplex popcorn with visual LSD, Jodorowsky became obsessed with the idea of adapting Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel “Dune”, all while not having read the book. With the intent of motivating artists but not directing them, he assembled a creative team that included Giger, Giraud, Chris Foss, and Dan O’Bannon. Together the group mapped out the entire film, shot-by-shot, and was able to package its script as a massive coffee table book for potential buyers to consider.

“Jodorowsky’s Dune” opens in Chicago on March 28th. Featuring Alejandro Jodorowsky, Nicolas Winding Refn, H.R. Giger, Chris Foss, and Devin Faraci. Directed by Frank Pavich. Rated “PG-13”

StarContinue reading for Nick Allen’s full review of “Jodorowsky’s Dune”

Alejandro Jodorowsky
Alejandro Jodorowsky in ‘Jodorowsky’s Dune’
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics

StarContinue reading for Nick Allen’s full review of “Jodorowsky’s Dune”

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