Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve says heB次元官网网址檚 relieved to see many rave reviews for his sci-fi epic B次元官网网址淒uneB次元官网网址� on the festival circuit, but the real test will be how it performs in theatres next month.
The highly anticipated adaptation of Frank HerbertB次元官网网址檚 1965 novel had a world exclusive IMAX screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday after its recent premiere in Venice.
The sprawling interstellar story of warring families stars Timoth茅e Chalamet as the protagonist antihero and Rebecca Ferguson as his mother.
Oscar Isaac plays his father, who oversees a dangerous desert planet containing the most valuable item in the universe.
As of Sunday afternoon, B次元官网网址淒uneB次元官网网址� had an 88 per cent approval rating from critics on movie review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
Villeneuve says heB次元官网网址檚 seen the positive reaction but doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to celebrate until he hears the box-office results when B次元官网网址淒uneB次元官网网址� hits Canadian and U.S. theatres on Oct. 22.
B次元官网网址淚 know that there are great reviews out there. ItB次元官网网址檚 a relief in a way,B次元官网网址� the Montreal writer-director, whose previous projects include B次元官网网址淎rrivalB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏lade Runner 2049,B次元官网网址� said in an interview Sunday.
B次元官网网址淎s much as IB次元官网网址檓 happy because of the way the movie has been received so far, I will say that the test will be to see how people are excited enough to go back to the theatre and live the big-screen experience B次元官网网址� what cinema is meant to be.B次元官网网址�
The theatrical turnout is doubly important to Villeneuve because he created the film specifically for the IMAX experience and wants audiences to see it on the big screen.
Plus, his vision for the story wonB次元官网网址檛 be complete if it doesnB次元官网网址檛 do well at the box office.
As the director, co-producer and co-writer, Villeneuve split the story in two, with the current film serving as Part 1.
He made an agreement with Warner Bros. that part two wonB次元官网网址檛 get made unless the first one does well when it hits theatres.
But theatrical turnout may be hampered by concerns over the COVID-19 Delta variant and Warner Bros.B次元官网网址� decision to put B次元官网网址淒uneB次元官网网址� on the HBO Max streaming service in the U.S. the same day it hits theatres.
Still, the story of B次元官网网址淒uneB次元官网网址� has legions of fans and the adaptation is one of the buzziest films of the year. The hype and anticipation intensified when the filmB次元官网网址檚 release was delayed several times due to the pandemic.
Its debut on Canadian soil at the Cinesphere IMAX Theatre for TIFF was B次元官网网址渧ery moving,B次元官网网址� said Villeneuve, noting the festival B次元官网网址渉as been very goodB次元官网网址� to him over the years.
B次元官网网址淚 need to give a shout-out to all the people who are working at TIFF this year, because itB次元官网网址檚 a very tough year for a film festival and these guys are heroes right now, to try to keep TIFF alive in difficult times,B次元官网网址� said Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth.
B次元官网网址淭hey have all my gratitude and respect and I feel very privileged to have the chance to screen my movie at this yearB次元官网网址檚 film festival.B次元官网网址�
Villeneuve was especially thrilled with the apt location of the premiere: the Cinesphere IMAX Theatre at Ontario Place, which is shaped as a futuristic-looking dome suspended in water.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the most surreal film theatre on Earth and at the same time itB次元官网网址檚 one of the most beautiful ones, but the setting is quite sci-fi,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very impressive. A sphere in the middle of the water B次元官网网址� how can it be better than that.B次元官网网址�
The Toronto film festival runs through Sept. 18 with a mix of online and in-person screenings.
B次元官网网址擵ictoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press
