Displaying items by tag: Josh Brolin

THE RUNNING MAN

US, 2025, 134 minutes, Colour.

Glenn Powell, James Brolin, Colman Domingo, William H.Macy, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Lee Pace, James Frecheville, Sean Hayes.

Directed by Edgar Wright.

Stephen King, under his other name, Richard Bachmann, published the novel, The Running Man, in 1982. The film version was released in 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This reviewer checked his review from 1987 and was surprised to find have the key elements from that period, political, media, violence, was so strong then. And, they are definitely to the fore in this version, almost 4 decades later.

It is hard to remember whether the television networks promoted such life-and-death hunts in those days – although, in 1988, the Truman Show was released, a more benign but nonetheless overarching intervention by television directors to control human stories. The other aspect of the novel and of the 1987 version was to refer to the hunts in terms of the Coliseum, gladiatorial combats, an avid audience relishing the possibilities for government sanctioned public deaths.

The bloodlust of audiences, rather sharpened by the variations on reality TV of the 21^st-century, is again to the fore. This time the target is Ben Richards, Glenn Powell reminding us that he is an attractive screen presence (emerging three years ago in Top Gun: Maverick, fighting tornadoes in Twisters, Romantic comedy in Anyone but You, and a charming Hit Man). Then his angry, fired for insubordination, desperate for finance for his sick daughter, auditioning to go into the Running Man Show, pursued by official and masked Hunters, getting bonuses for everyday of survival, million dollar reward if he survives 30 days.

A lot of action adventure, needless to say, risks, threats, narrow escapes, high-powered dangerous situations… And his eluding them all. Josh Brolin is severe as the network executive, controlling, dominant, until you are then further. And there is Colman Domingo as the television host, staring up the audience, showing clips of Ben and his survival as well as the pursuits.

Ben gets various amounts of help along the way, most eccentrically from a bizarre character played by Michael Sarah, pumping up the risks, magnifying the dangers.

At 2 ¼ hours, the film is very long, repetitive the pursuits and escapes, culminating in a perilous flight with a television soap Opera star as hostage.

On the one hand, action packed for the fans. On the other hand, a huge critique of this kind of gladiatorial reality show and its effect on its audience.

1. The title, the reality of Ben Richards being pursued, the television show, the network managers and controllers, the compere is, the Hunters, and the participation of the public, hounding the runner, helping him?
2. The perspective of Stephen King, his insights into this kind of world as early as the early 1980s, the film version of 1987, the development of this kind of media world and violence over the next four decades?
3. Action spectacular, the details of the chases, tensions, pressure, crowd watching in reality, in the studio, on the television screens, supporters, informers, the effect on Ben Richards?
4. Ben and his situation, his bosses, being fired, insubordination, anger, asking for money, his wife, his sick daughter? His motivation? The money and aid for the family? Going to the auditions, the range of tests, his helping the competitor falling? The team, the uniform, the other two members, the confident young man and his quickly being disposed of, the woman, at Las Vegas, defying the authorities, escaping, trapped and her death?
5. Dan Killian, manager of the network, his personality, seen on screen, his proposal to Ben, the money situation, his continued interventions, lucrative office, the bonuses? His ultimate intentions? The interventions, the Hunters, filming, the drones, the final plane ride and his control? The finale, the confrontation with the TV host, his defeat?
6. The TV host, the reality and the parody of the style of the host, taking sides, watching the sequences, staring up the audience, the progress of the hunt, the days passing? His ultimate stands, the confrontation with Dan Killian?
7. The various helpers along the way, the young man and his family, taking Ben into their home, his equipment, his pod cast, the information, driving the car? Morley, the past connections, the documentation, the authorities coming in killing him? Elton, eccentricity, his mother, the help, the challenges to the Hunters, the chases, the traps, tunnels? The vehicles on the escape, the crashes and pursuits?
8. Ben and the hotel, changing his identity, the cards, hair, moustache, disguises a priest? On the building, the pursuit, the sign, hanging, falling and crashing? The ultimate explosion?
9. The public, tracking him down, giving information, cheering him on?
10. The television show, the Americanos, Emilia, in the car, her believing the propaganda, then persuading her of the truth, the pursuit, the roadblocks, Ben being shrewd with Dan Killian’s intentions, his being led through, the plane, the pilots as Hunters, the unmasking of the previous competitor, the fights, the plane, potential crash? Emilia, helping, outside the plane, the parachute?
11. Ben, the images of his wife and child, the flashbacks, motivating him? Ultimate success?
12. A commercial and money world, Killian and his wanting Ben to have his own program, to be the TV Hunter?
13. The film offering a commentary on the contemporary world of power, the wielding of power, the media, the role of the individual, motivations, money, integrity?

WAKE UP DEAD MAN

US, 2025, 144 minutes, Colour.

Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl MacCormack, Thomas Hayden Church, Jeffrey Wright, Annie Hamilton, James Faulkner, Bridget Everett.

Directed by Rian Johnson.

In 2019, movie audiences worldwide enjoyed a very entertaining murder mystery, Knives Out, a very starry cast, an offbeat private detective, genteel and from the South, Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig. Three years later, writer-director, Rian Johnson, was successful again with The Glass Onion. And audiences wondered, now three years later again, whether this film, Wake Up Dead Man, could be a successful.

It is.

And, once again Daniel Craig’s charmingly eccentric Blanc, a star cast for character actors, a murder in an equivalently locked room, plenty of suspects, gradual revelations, twists (although many audiences probably pick the murderer but will be surprised at all the motivations and turns in the plot). There are references to Agatha Christie and Roger Ackroyd. And, Benoit Blanc uses the John Dickson Carr thriller, The Hollow Room, as a template for his theories.

No difficulties in recommending Wake Up Dead Man to murder mystery audiences – plenty to entertain, almost 2 ½ hours worth.

But, the surprise is the Catholicism pervading the whole story and treatment. Which meant checking whether writer-director, Rian Johnson is Catholic. In fact he grew up in a close evangelical community.

The filmmaker made Dead Man in large part to excavate his deeply religious youth, a core part of his identity that gradually faded in adulthood. “I slowly realized I was writing this through the lens of me, now,” Johnson says. “I had to step back into me, 30 years ago, and tap back into the things that inspired and drove me as a Christian”. David Canfield, 21 Nov. 2025. Hollywood Reporter.

The events take place in the fictional parish in New York state, Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, ruled over by an eccentric parish priest, Msgr Wicks, Josh Brolin rather savage, something of a cult leader in his hold over a group of parishioners, helping them, but exercising power, an angry man (and there is an interesting background to his place in the church), taking a stance against any inroads against him and the church, siege mentality. The common-sensed local Bishop, Jeffrey Wright, appoints an earnest young priest, Father Jud, to bring some balance to the parish. Father Jud is played by Josh O’Connor, one of his best performances, a former boxer with responsibility for death, changing his life, very much focus on Jesus of the Gospels, pastorally earnest. (Perhaps Rian Johnson had seen Mark Wahlberg as Father Stu!) An eventual clashing with the parish priest and his loyal parishioners.

The film introduces quite a range of characters, all potential suspects, the devoted manager of the parish, Glenn Close; the local doctor, Jeremy Renner; the local lawyer, Kerry Washington; an oddball novelist, Andrew Scott; a wheelchair-confined cellist, Cailee Spaeny; the caretaker, Thomas Hayden Church; a young would-be politician, Daryl McCormack (who has a marvellous short scene where he explains how he has campaigned in an enormous litany of every cause, every controversy, every movement in contemporary politics, especially in the USA).

And the murder takes place on Good Friday, and some rather fanatical beliefs and manoeuvrings in rising from the dead.

One of the features prominent in the film is that of confession, several between Msgr Wicks and Father Jud, some revelations of conscience, personality, some twists of conscience. And, Benoit Blanc, who declares himself absolutely rationalist, has to admire Father Jud, wants to save him from all the suspicions, sees that his Gospel compassion has something to commend it and arranges that the final revelation should take place in the church, everybody present, and that the murderer admits guilt in the framework of confession.

Many audiences will just observe this Catholic framework – but, the characters, the situations, the sins, repentance, the contrast between authoritarianism and pastoral enthusiasm make a difference for a Catholic audience.

1. Audience enjoyment murder mysteries? Literary tradition from Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr…? The film tradition? This third Benoit Blanc mystery?
2. Audience enjoyment of Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, from the south, manner, speaking, clothes, style? The previous films, his status as detective, clues, interrogations, explanations, the dramatic confrontations, the accused, the suspects, the murderer?
3. Father Jud and his story, writing up the accounts, his voice-over, his own story, young, boxer, killing his opponent, later saying he hated him, his sense of guilt, his discovery of Jesus, motivations, priesthood, the interview with the Bishop, his being reprimanded by the panel, his manner, vocabulary, talk about his faith and pastoral perspective? The Bishop sympathy, the new appointment?
4. The warning about Msgr Wicks, Jud arriving, the encounter, at Wicks’ and his appearance, manner, way of speaking? His long status of the church? The back story, his father, widower, becoming a priest, establishing the church, his daughter and her ways, pregnancy, unknown father, the ministry of her father, his death at the altar, the inheritance, her wanting it, the destruction of the church and her anger, the encounter with Martha as a little girl, her death? The father and the mausoleum? Msgr Wicks, ordained, the church, the small congregation?
5. Msgr Wicks, conservative, angry, feeling the church was under siege, his hold over the community, words of help, yet humiliating them, making them dependent? His thundery sermons? The encounter with Jud, the boxing, the sparring and the demonstration of asserting oneself? The issue of confessions, his talk about himself, especially the sexual dimensions of his life, and the later information about his prostate surgery and his assertions? Forcing Jud to confess to him? Jud and the uncomfortable experiences? The prayer penances? Time passing?
6. The information about Martha, as a little girl, with the elderly priest and her devotion, the fight with his daughter and her death? The doing all the work in the parish, older, prim and proper, accounts, the organ playing, her devotion to Msgr Wicks? Her reaction to Jud? To the other parishioners? The homilies and her looking in admiration to the monsignor?
7. Dr Nat, the doctor, devoted to his wife, her suddenly leaving him, his drinking, wanting her back? Vera, the lawyer, keeping the parish accounts? Cyrus, her looking after him, his growing up, his political ambitions, the sequence of his describing all the issues and causes that he had tried out? His use of the media, filming everything? Simone, her age, playing the cello, her incapacities, retiring, giving her money to the Parish? Lee, author, the lurid titles, his retirement, his house has a fortress with a defensive mode? Supportive of monsignor?
8. The image of the Catholic Church, the progressive and pastoral perspectives as embodied by Jud, contemporary involvement in the Gospel and Jesus message for those in need? The contrast with the isolating, the defensive, the exercise of power, and the moral double standards?
9. Monsignor and his meetings, the revelation of the meeting where he denounced everyone, their loyalties to him, the humiliations?
10. The presence of Samson, gardener, alcoholic, monsignor rehabilitating him, Martha and her devotion? The television, his watching the matches? The interrogations by Blanc?
11. Jud, his prayer meeting, their attendance, the reactions, the monsignor coming in, punching Jud? The atmosphere for Holy Week?
12. Good Friday, the ceremony, all present, the homily, the singing of the chant with the cross, monsignor exiting, his collapse, Jud going in, dead, stabbed, the blood? The closed room?
13. The police, the information, Jud under suspicion, his behaviour? The personality of the investigator, her tough stances, interrogations, suspicions of Jud?
14. The calling in of Benoit Blanc, entering the church, the discussions with Jud, his not being a believer, the vocalising of attitudes of agnostics and atheists, criticism of belief? Yet his polite listening to Jud and the others, and his later moments of acknowledgement of faith and belief, his finally organising the final confession? His methods, the reliance on The Hollow Room, John Dickson Carr, going to the various possibilities?
15. The developments of the case, the issue of the excavator for the mausoleum, the autopsy, Jud being present, having to leave the room, monsignor being buried in the mausoleum? Martha, her fussing, with the police, with Benoit Blanc, her belief in the resurrection, her continued prayer?
16. The resurrection episode, Samson in the coffin, emerging investments, the range of cameras in the church and the mausoleum, motions filming, Jud arriving and slipping in the mud? His seeing the light, discovering Samson, his death? The police and further suspicions? Martha and her acknowledging that monsignor had risen from the dead and gone to heaven?
17. The revelation that Cyrus was Msgr’s son, the unknown mother, Vera and her disgust and relationship with Cyrus, his bonding with monsignor, taking his name, being the heir, wanting to discover his grandfather’s inheritance? The keepsake, the apple, the lawyer, the search of documents? Benoit Blanc and Jud and their search?
18. The further investigations, going to the doctor’s house, the discovery of monsignor’s body, the doctor dead, the further mystery?
19. Jud, his sense of guilt, wanting to confess? Benoit Blanc’s reaction, assembling everybody in the church, the explanations, but his wanting to show compassion like Jud to those in need of compassion? Arranging the confession sequence?
20. Martha, the confession, her explanations, the various clues, the background of the old priest, her devotion to him as a little girl, her contempt for his daughter, the truth about the old man’s death, swallowing the jewel, its being buried with him, Martha keeping the secret? Her shock at hearing the truth, turning against monsignor, side issue of the phone call to find out who booked the machine, Jud and his long discussions with Louise, pastoral compassion? That Martha had booked the machine, to get to the body of the old man, to retrieve the jewel? The solution to the mystery, the camera and the experts explanation about time lapse, Jud and his concealing the drink and monsignor’s reputation, but his collapse with the drugs, Martha selling the emblem on to the chasuble (and the background of the visit to the bar and the implement, Jud and his despair, throwing the implement through the window, their being two? The doctor doing the stabbing? Not able to find the alcohol container behind the door? Her plot with the doctor, to resurrect monsignor through Samson, the doctor and his greed, killing Samson, his explanation to Martha, going back to the house, the issue of the poisoned drink, Martha distracting the doctor, switching the cups, his death, her throwing him down the steps? Her retrieving the jewel? Her drinking the poison, her death?
21. The aftermath, Vera leaving town, Cy and his further political ambitions, Lee and his book on publication and signing autographs, Simone playing the cello again?
22. Jud, the discussions with the bishop, the support from the Bishop, going back to the church, the audience thinking he was using the money from the jewel – the renovations of the church, the restored crucifix – and the final revelation of the jewel buried in the crucifix?
23. Satisfying murder mystery, death in the locked room, clues, investigation, solution?

WEAPONS

US, 2025, 128 minutes, Colour.

Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Alden Ehrenreich, Clayton Farris, Justin Long, Sarah Paxton,

Directed by Zach Cregger.

Weapons is quite a general title and audiences may be expecting to see a lot of firearms. However, the weapons this time are young children, 17 in a school class who suddenly disappear, running from their homes, in the early hours one morning. Only one does not disappear, Alex (Cary Christopher), who lives a lonely kind of existence. Where can this be going?

The film was written and directed by Zach Cregger whose previous film, Barbarian,   employedthe same pattern as here, establishing characters and situations, building up to the explicit horror. He certainly is able to create an atmosphere of mystery, often quite unsettling, the audience puzzled, looking for clues and indications and then, finally, a frighteningly overwhelming climax.

While we see the disappearance of the children, wondering where they could be, the structure of the film is in chapters, each with the name of a significant member of the cast, from Justine (Julia Garner), the initially hapless teacher of the disappeared children, blamed by the parents, branded as a witch, and not quite a steady personality. Then there is her relationship with Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), a rather callow policeman with the angry, neglected wife and pursuing a vagrant, James (Austin Abrams), addict, homeless, always ready to exploit situations. The other main characters are Marcus, the school principal (Benedict Wong), and Archer (Josh Brolin), a concerned parent whose son has been the principal bully to Alex.

And, the screenplay moves around in time, revealing characters, going back to situations, developing interconnections, which means that the audience has to be quite attentive.

And, at Alex’s house, more sinister revelations, the fate of Alex’s parents and the mysterious Aunt Gladys insinuating herself into the household, eliciting pity, but frightening people and the gradual revelation of who she is, her powers of control, the discovery of the children and a ferocious climax. Amy Madigan offers a powerfully alarming performance.

This may not appeal to audiences, of course, but it is a horror film worth considering, an involving plot, a range of flawed characters, the problems of a small town, school and teachers and parents, and eerie suggestions of horror which may or may not be possible in real life.

1. The arresting title? Audience puzzle? The later explanations, the possessed characters, their arms like wings, their attacks, violent destruction?
2. The Middle American town, atmosphere, homes, school, streets, police precincts, the countryside? The musical score?
3. The narration throughout, the voice of the schoolgirl, touch of the eerie?
4. The episode, the 17 children, visualised, running with their arms like wings, disappearing? All from the one class? Only Alex coming to school the next day? Justin’s class, her coming, the discussions with the principal, the reaction of the parents, her being blamed, the meetings and denunciations, the painting of “witch” on her car? The setting up of the atmosphere?
5. The writer-director and his previous film, the same pattern, establishing characters and situations, building up to the explicit horror?
6. The device of having chapters, the names of the principal characters? Focus on them, introducing other characters, flashbacks, the building up of the time and momentum, going back for the audience to see episodes from a different angle? And then the final sequences, in chronology, with explanations, visuals, and the introduction of the horror and gore aspects? The cumulative effect?
7. Justine, teacher, devoted to the children, yet past DUI, her drinking, at the bar, living alone, and nightmares, the relationship with Paul, deceiving his wife, drinking, going home with Justine, the sexual encounters, the aftermath? Justine recommended to be quiet, yet her following Alex, going to the house, looking in the windows, the people still, boarded-up? The vigil in the car, the mother cutting a look at her hair? Further encounters with Paul?
8. Paul, age, police, tense, drinking, his marriage, relations with his wife, deceiving her, her outbursts? His time with Justine? Tension, with the police chief, the discussions with him? The pursuit of James, vagrant, anger, his finger pierced, health worries, the discussions with his superior, keeping it quiet?
9. James, vagrant, asking for money from Justine, stealing, going to the pawnbroker, being chased by Paul, Paul pierced, his running away? Wandering, seeing Gladys in the field? His tent, the drugs? The rain, going to the house, getting inside, the mystery of the people, his apologies, steal the cutlery, going to the pawnbroker?
10. Archer, parent, his wife, his son seen in bullying Alex, his work on the building site, erratic, the confrontations with Justine, the injuries and the accident, their beginning to share concerns, his own investigating, his dreams, teaming up with her eventually, going to the house, getting inside?
11. Marcus, principal, ethics, strictures on Justine and her following Alex? With the parents? Time passing? At home, his relationship with Terry?
12. Alex, his age, at home, his relationship with his parents, happy relationship, driving with his father, dropping him at school, his mother at home, the prospect of aunt Gladys coming, preparing the house? His being bullied, especially by Matthew? Aunt Gladys and her arrival, his reaction, her behaviour in the house?
13. Aunt Gladys, appearing in the dreams, glimpsed by James? Her arrival, appearance, the make up, a witch, old and wizened, taking control of the family, her branches, has sticks, her rituals, pricking, the blood, on the branch, breaking it, the personal links with the victims, hair…? Her control in the house, paralysing Alex’s parents, his reaction to this, keeping them alive, feeding them the soup? Her dying, but being sustained by energies from the victims? Her encounter with Marcus, at school, bringing Alex’s father to the school, her coming to Marcus’s house, hypnotising him, controlling him, his live-in partner, and bashing him to death? Then his running through the town, like a weapon, to track down Justine?
14. James, taken by Paul, in the car, all in the house, his being controlled, bringing James into the house? The arrival of archer and Justine, all hypnotised? The confrontations within the house, archer hypnotised, Justine almost killed, her getting the gun, killing Paul, rescuing Alex?
15. The children, Archer’s search in the basement for his son, Gladys asking Alex to get personal emblems, the gymnasium, Justine, his taking them and chopping them to pieces? Their coming alive, pursuing her, the mayhem in the chase throughout all homes, smashing, the glass? And the descending on Gladys and destroying her?
16. The little girl in the narration, talking about the aftermath, Alex moving away, some gradual recovery for the children…?

DUNE, PART 2

US, 2024, 166 minutes, Colour.

Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgaard, Charlotte Rampling, Roger Yuan.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 version of Dune made quite an impact. The Dune novels by Frank Herbert had been popular for decades. David Lynch had made a version in 1984 which was not favourably received (except by this reviewer!). So, in a sense, Villeneuve’s version was a vindication of the power of the novel, its characters, its imagination, its mythical vision of the future.

Now, here is Dune Part 2 – and, in its immediate release, it seems to have pleased almost everyone, quite a number of bloggers relying on the word “masterpiece”. Whether that be the case are not, the film is certainly visually impressive as was the original. And, this review is based on an IMAX screening, which is thoroughly recommended. The landscapes, the endless mounds of dunes, the craggy mountains, the canyons provide a vastly impressive setting. And, the musical score, the brass instruments and their resounding make the cinema seats reverberate.

And, with this kind of tale-telling, kingdoms, battles, futuristic weapons and armaments, vast buildings and interiors, including an enormous gladiator arena filmed in black and white, hundreds of thousands of spectators, there are what we might call state-of-the-art… Effects.

For those familiar with the novels and the films, there is no need to wonder about the House of Atreides, the fate of the ruler, his young son, Paul, his mother, Jessica, the conflict with the Emperor, the hostility towards the Harkonnens. Those not so familiar may have a lot of moments, especially in the battle sequences, as to who is who and why it is all happening at this moment.

As before, Timothee Chalamet is Paul, Rebecca Ferguson his mother, Zendaya is Chani.

In the first part of this this film, we focus on Paul and his mother, the bond with Chani from the previous episode, the hiding from enemies in the desert (who have enormous sky vehicles and have the power of levitation up the sides of mountains), then some combat with hostile locals. However, the local leader, Stilgar, Javier Bardem, welcomes the foreigners, and, with echoes of biblical/Islamic traditions, a reliance on prophecies and fulfilment, a hope for a Messiah.  Stilgar puts Paul to the test.

Then we go back to the spice industry, the villain, Beast Rabban, Dave Bautista, his ruthlessness, but also his defeat, his return to his master, Baron Harkonnen, Stellan Skarsgaard, who is grooming his nephew, Austin Butler, whom he describes as psychotic, who combats three remnants of the House of Atreides.

There is further drama concerning Paul’s mother, her later discovery of who her father was and what that means in terms of Atreides versus Harkonnens, and her becoming the new Reverend Mother.

New characters in this film include Christopher Walken as the Emperor and Florence Pugh as his Princess daughter, who has been trained by the sinister Reverend Mother, Charlotte Rampling.

Which means that it all has to come to a head, the power of the Emperor, his plans, Paul as the new saviour, Battle confrontation mano a mano between Paul and the psychotic nephew.

While there is some resolution, the way is now open for a climax in Dune Part 3

1. The long popularity of Frank Herbert books? 1984 version? The impact of Part 1?
2. The continuation of the story, life on the planet, Arrakis, the house of Atreides and its destruction, the Harkonnens, the Emperor and his family, the setting in the 10,000s?
3. The landscapes, the dunes in the desert, the mountains, canyons, the cities, the interiors, the vast buildings, the gladiatorial arena? The colour photography? Black-and-white photography for the Harkonnen world?
4. Action sequences, the range of special effects, in the desert, the worms and movement, the winds, the aerial machines, the Army sequences and battles, the hand to hand final combat?
5. The musical score, the instruments, the booming and reverberating sounds?
6. The situation, the destruction of the House of Atreides, Paul surviving with his mother, the previous bond with Chani, hiding and the attacks in the desert, aerial surveillance, the ability of the soldiers to ascend and climb the mountain sides?
7. Paul and his mother and Chani, brought to her people, the issue of the combat, the defeat of their warrior, the response of the crowds, the men, the sceptical women? The funeral?
8. Stilgar, his status in the community, the Biblical/Islamic traditions of written words and prophecy, the hope of a saviour? The men and their beliefs, their prayer? The women critical including Chani? Stilgar and his personality, leadership, influence on the others, belief in Paul? Fulfilment of prophecy? The range of tests, the crossing of the dunes, Chani and her advice and help, the big test, going out into the dunes, the soundings, the worms emerging, giant, Paul and his abilities, the hooks, and riding the worms? Acclaim?
9. The solemn place of the Reverend Mothers, Jessica, her bond with her son, chosen to be a Reverend Mother, the rituals, the old Mother and succession, the transfer of knowledge, the abstract colour visuals for these sequences? Her tattooed face? Her role with the women, knowledge and advice? Her wanting to go south, to return home, with Paul? His refusal? Seeing her off with the entourage?
10. The episode with Beast Rabban, the initial caption about the power and the power with the spice? The spice industry, cause of conflict? The farming of the spice, collecting it, financial issues? The Beast and his autocratic behaviour, slitting the throats of his advisers? Falling foul of the Emperor, the aerial sequences, his defeat, having to kiss the feet of Fayd-Rautha?
11. The tradition of the Harkonnens, the Baron, in the bath, his size, bloated? His relationship with the Emperor? Helping the Emperor to defeat the House of Atreides? His plans for his nephew? The description of the nephew as psychotic? Everybody with shaved heads? Preparations for the gladiatorial combat, the black-and-white photography, the visuals of the arena, the special effects for hundreds of thousands of spectators, the three final warriors from the House of Atriedes, the confrontation with Fayd-Rautha, the fights, his arrogance, the blood, the knives, the final foe giving him a fight? Arrogant Victor?
12. The return of Gurney, the story in the past, smuggling? The friendship with Paul, their bonding? Chani and her suspicions? Gurney and his participation in the insurrection, present at the end?
13. The scenes with the Emperor, his rule, under threat, his assertion? The scenes with his daughter, his hopes for her? The Reverend Mother, her manner, influence in the past, training the daughter, ambitious, controlling, her strategies, her ruthlessness?
14. The buildup to the confrontation with the forces of the Emperor, Paul, the Fundamentalists from the south, the attack, the air vehicles and their destruction, on the ground, the firepower, the skills of the fighters and their disguise, rising from the sands? The visuals of the vast confrontations?
15. The victory, the confrontation with the Emperor, Paul and his assertions, the killing of the Baron, revenge? The Emperor, defiant? Fayd-Rautha as his champion? Paul and his conditions, speaking of marrying the Emperor’s daughter, peace, Chani and her reaction?
16. The Mano a Mano fight, strategies, techniques? Paul being wounded? Turning the tables on his opponent, his death? The Emperor, having to kneel before Paul?
17. Stilgar, everybody rejoicing, Paul as the saviour? His mother and her response? The defeat of the Reverend Mother and the Emperor’s entourage?
18. The ending, the openness to the reassertion of Paul Atreides and his leadership?