Dune: Part Two's Biggest Weapon Isn't A Sandworm – It's Christopher Walken
02 -03-2024
Mild spoilers for "Dune: Part Two" follow.
"Dune: Part Two" is loaded with hot young stars — Timothée Chalamet! Zendaya! Austin Butler! Florence Pugh! And nestled among all these new Hollywood faces is someone from the old school: Christopher Walken. When Walken joined the "Dune: Part Two" cast as Shaddam IV, the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, I was thrilled. Not because I'm overly familiar with "Dune" lore (I've never read any of the books), but because the prospect of seeing Christopher Walken in a big sci-fi epic as the "Emperor of the Known Universe" sounded pretty damn cool.
Sure enough, Walken shows up in "Dune: Part Two" and walks away with every brief scene he has. It's not a big role. It's not a showy role. But Walken, sporting puffy white hair and a hang-dog expression, has such gravitas, such heft as a performer, that he makes a meal of every tiny morsel. In a way, the film is weaponizing what we know about Walken as an actor. At this point in his long career, we kind of have an idea of what to expect from Walken — and it's usually something slightly weird and off-kilter, with maybe a little dancing thrown in for good measure (Walken is a trained dancer). The actor is arguably best known for the very unique way he handles dialogue, emphasizing words in unexpected ways. It's the reason why there are a million crappy Christopher Walken impersonations out there.
But "Dune: Part Two" reminds us there's more to Christopher Walken than a weird voice.
Walken away with this movie
The Emperor was not seen in the first "Dune," but we learned there that he gave the O.K. for the villainous Harkonnens to attack and slaughter the Atreides briefly after giving the Atreides control of the desert planet Arrakis. "Dune: Part Two" eventually allows the Emperor to explain why he did what he did, but before it gets there, it gives us scenes of Walken sitting and contemplating while his worried, suspicious daughter (Florence Pugh) looks on. On the surface, there's not a whole lot going on in these scenes, and yet Walken brings with him so much weight as a performer that we're transfixed.
Walken gets a bigger moment during the huge, action-packed climax of the film, where he arrives on Arrakis after being summoned by Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who has become the Fremen messiah/freedom fighter known as Muad'Dib. This gives Walken a chance to sit on a big throne and look threatening. Eventually, Paul infiltrates the Emperor's inner sanctum and confronts him about the betrayal that resulted in the death of Paul's father, Duke Leto Atreides (played by Oscar Isaac in the first film).
Walken, as the Emperor, tries to command respect, demanding Paul kneel before him — but Paul refuses. The Emperor looks weak and ineffectual in front of this young man, but Walken plays the scene just right by maintaining an air of entitled indignation. He's suddenly powerless but refuses to accept it. He cannot believe the insolence of this boy who dares to challenge him. "Your father was weak," Walken says in a harsh whisper. It's a chilling moment, and watching Walken command the scene is nothing short of remarkable. Timothée Chalamet is a good actor, but watching him act against Walken just underscores Walken's talents. He runs away with the scene.
Do we take Christopher Walken for granted as a performer? I think we might. Like Nicolas Cage, Walken can often be thought of as more of a walking meme than a talented actor. But his long, acclaimed career speaks to his strengths, be it his Oscar-winning work in "The Deer Hunter," his scene-stealing cameo in "Pulp Fiction," the threatening aura of his starring role in "King of New York," his memorable dancing in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" music video (which has its own fun "Dune" connection), or his heartbreaking turn in Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can."
There's a reason we're fascinated with Christopher Walken: he makes choices other actors don't. Sure, sometimes that results in strange, over-the-top silliness in less-than-great movies, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't acknowledge his skills. His brief but memorable turn in "Dune: Part Two" is a reminder of what Walken can do, and do well. The film is loaded with spectacle and big mind-blowing special effects showcasing monstrous sandworms, but my favorite parts of the movie were the scenes where Christopher Walken got to show up and remind us he's still got it.
I spoke more about Walken and his "Dune: Part Two" performance on today's episode of the /Film Daily podcast, which you can listen to below:
The following contains mild spoilers about "Dune: Part Two".
Timothee Chalamet is one of the hottest young stars in "Dune Part Two". Zendaya! Austin Butler Florence Pugh Christopher Walken is a familiar face amongst all the new Hollywood stars. Walken's casting as Shaddam, Padishah, Emperor of the Known Universe in "Dune: Part Two", thrilled me. It's not that I was familiar with the "Dune" lore, as I haven't read the books. But the thought of Christopher Walken playing the "Emperor" of the Known Universe in a huge sci-fi movie was pretty cool.
Walken appears in "Dune: Part Two", and he walks out of every scene. This is not a major role. This is not an overly showy part. Walken's performance is so affecting, with his puffy hair, a hanging-dog look, and great gravitas. The film uses what we already know about Walken's acting abilities. We know what we can expect from Walken at this stage in his career. It's always something strange and off-kilter with a bit of dancing (Walken has been trained as a dancer). He is best known for his unique style of handling dialogue and highlighting words in surprising ways. This is why you can find a lot of bad Christopher Walken imitations.
However, "Dune: Part Two", reminds us that Christopher Walken is more than just a strange voice.
This movie will make you want to walk away.
In the first episode of "Dune," the Emperor is not visible, but it was revealed that he had given the OK. The villainous Harkonnens attacked and killed the Atreides shortly after the Atreides were given control of Arrakis. The Emperor is finally able to give an explanation for his actions in "Dune: Part Two", but not before we see scenes where Walken sits and thinks, while Florence Pugh, the daughter of Walken, watches on. There's not much going on, but Walken's performance is so powerful that it's impossible to look away.
Walken's moment is bigger in the action-packed, huge climax, when he finally arrives on Arrakis, after Paul Atreides, who became the Fremen Messiah/Freedom Fighter known as Muad'Dib, summons him. Walken can now sit on the throne of Arrakis and appear threatening. Paul eventually infiltrates Emperor Oscar Isaac's inner sanctuary and confronts him over the betrayal which led to the death of Paul Atreides' father.
Walken as the Emperor tries to gain respect by demanding that Paul bow before him. But Paul doesn't. Walken's portrayal of the Emperor is perfect. He maintains a tone of righteous indignation while making him appear weak and powerless in comparison to this young man. He is suddenly rendered powerless, but refuses accept this. The boy's insolence is beyond his comprehension. Walken whispers in an angry tone, "Your father is weak." The scene was chilling, and Walken's command of the situation is remarkable. Timothee Chalamet may be a talented actor, but seeing him play against Walken only highlights Walken's talent. The scene is dominated by him.
Are we assuming that Christopher Walken is a great actor? We might. Walken is often compared to Nicolas Cage as a "walking meme" rather than an actor. His long and acclaimed career is a testament to Walken's strengths. Whether it's his Oscar-winning performance in "The Deer Hunter," or his snarling cameo in the film "Pulp fiction," his intimidating starring role as "King of New York,", his unforgettable dancing in Fatboy Slim’s music video "Weapon of Choice," (which also has ties to "Dune"), or his moving turn in Steven Spielberg’s "Catch Me If You can
Christopher Walken is a fascinating actor because he takes risks that other actors would not. It's true that sometimes this results in over the top silliness, in lesser-than-great films, but we should still acknowledge his talents. Walken's brief, but unforgettable role in "Dune: Part Two", is proof of his ability to do great work. I loved the film's spectacle, and the mind-blowing effects that showcased monstrous sandworms. But my favourite parts were when Christopher Walken appeared to remind us that he still has it.
On today's episode, you can hear me talk more about Walken.