The notable French - Canadian manager Denis Villeneuve is one of the most popular and best movie maker working today . Villeneuve has been defecate pic since 1998 , but really burst onto the tantrum with 2013’sPrisoners , which was soon followed by one blockbuster after another .
Villeneuve has created films traverse multiple genre , but he ’s well - known for his criminal offense , thriller , and sci - fi movies . From the riveting thrillerSicarioto his up-to-the-minute sci - fi heroic poem , Dune : Part Two , Denis Villeneuve ’s good movies showcase his talent for creating immersive and visually stunning Earth full of complex characters and compelling stories . As audiences constellate to theatre to see his former entry in the Dune trilogy , it ’s the perfect time to revisit the conductor ’s works to see which of his films may be worth check .
11. Maelström (2000)
Maelström , Villeneuve ’s 2nd feature - duration picture show , is an absurdist psychological drama telling the story of Bibiane ( Marie - Josée Croze ) , an dysphoric part - time model who tolerate a traumatic miscarriage . After turning to substances to combat her natural depression , Bibiane is involve in a rummy - driving fortuity that leaves one pedestrian utter . The protagonist run , but her guilt incite her to attend her dupe ’s funeral , where she meets and fall in love with his Word , Evian ( Jean - Nicolas Verreault ) .
The 2000 film was invigorate byVilleneuve ’s fascination with car crashes , which he cry the “ most spectacular events common and cheeseparing to us . ” It expend distinct illusion and humorous elements , like a let the cat out of the bag Pisces for a narrator , to tell its darkly comedic news report . While not all of its elements make for well together , Maelströmis still a fascinating lookout and a unassailable monitor of the importance of taking province for case-by-case action .
10. August 32nd on Earth (1998)
With it being his first pic , August 32nd on Earthlooks quite different equate to the director ’s kit and boodle today . The plot is thin and its tempo is shaky , but the 1998 film undoubtedly shows tracing of the strike visuals Villeneuve would become known for in his later works . The desert scenes are particularly memorable , with the emptiness of the setting complement the champion ’s search for new meaning in her life history .
9. Enemy (2013)
Jake Gyllenhaal star in two-fold part as the balmy - mannered college professor Adam Bell and struggle actor Anthony Claire in 2013’sEnemy . The neo - noir psychological thriller revolves around Adam ’s discovery of the search - alike player and his subsequent attempts at learning more about Anthony ’s life . He needs crosses boundary in the physical process of determine about Anthony , which soon leads to a dramatic confrontation and a confounding decision .
Enemysoars thanks to theimpeccably cast Jake Gyllenhaal , who plays the contradict roles with ease . There ’s a mounting sense of apprehension in the picture , thanks to the supporter ’s increasingly dangerous decision and the film ’s purposive color dodging and heavy standard atmosphere . The divisive point inEnemycomes toward the close , and anyone who does n’t apprize ambiguity or surrealism should direct clear . Those who are hunky-dory with movies that pull up stakes much to interview ’ interpretation are more likely to enjoy Villeneuve ’s challenging 2013 film .
8. Polytechnique (2009)
establish on the hideous actual - life 1989 École Polytechnique slaughter , Polytechniquedepicts the harrowing events through the eyes of two student , Valérie ( Karine Vanasse ) and Jean - François ( Sébastien Huberdeau ) . As the gunman mercilessly targets women , the repulsion that take place in the technology school are on full display in Villeneuve ’s haunting 77 - min drama film .
Polytechniqueis unflinching in its portrayal of the sex - base violence that pick out the lives of 14 young women in what is also get laid as the “ Montreal Massacre . ” Its stark black - and - ashen filming and powerful performance from Vanasse and Huberdeau are at the root of the motion-picture show ’s aroused impingement . Polytechniquealso benefits from Villeneuve ’s sensitive charge , which faithfully shows the terrific outcome without glorify them . The 2009 film refrain from making any kind of judgment about the event , choosing instead to depict the direful massacre with rawness and Lunaria annua . This downrightness was also the source of most criticisms of the movie .
7. Incendies (2010)
The award - winning 2010 drama filmIncendiesis Villeneuve ’s darkest and punishing movie , which says a deal considering his filmography . It tells the story of Canadian twin Jeanne ( Mélissa Désormeaux - Poulin ) and Simon Marwan ( Maxim Gaudette ) , who move to their mother ’s native res publica in the Levant area of West Asia following her dying . A war - torn nation and startling family secrets that exchange their perceptions of their whole identities awaits them there .
Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad ’s eponymic play , Incendiesdoesn’t hold back in its depiction of the twins ’ grievous odyssey in what was once their mother ’s nursing home . As they each larn unnerving truths about themselves and meet relatives they never acknowledge subsist , they grapple with what these things mean for their lives . Is it a touch too histrionic at times ? Maybe . But the devastating emotional impact and powerful performances from its two leads far overbalance any minor unfavorable judgment of the unforgettable film .
6. Prisoners (2013)
One of thebest crime movies of all fourth dimension , Prisonersshows just how far parents will go to protect their children . The thriller follows Keller Dover ( Hugh Jackman ) , who panic when his 6 - yr - old daughter and her friend go miss . When the police force , lead by Detective Loki ( Jake Gyllenhaal ) , fail to find the girls , Keller and the other father , Franklin Birch ( Terrence Howard ) , take matters into their own hand , kidnapping the human they think is responsible for .
Villeneuve ’s 2013 film provides a nerve-racking wake experience in the unspoilt way possible , with the anxiety - inducing picture show and its morally gray characters making it hard to rout for its perfectly cast protagonists . Hugh Jackman , in special , gives an particular and amazingly emotional execution as a heroic father just look for answers . Some confutable construction away , Prisonersis an absorbing movie that does an fantabulous Book of Job of inspiring dread in anyone watching , especially parents .
5. Sicario (2015)
Sicarioplunges idealistic FBI broker Kate Macer ( Emily Blunt ) into the colored and unreliable realities of the drug warfare along the U.S.-Mexico border . There , she joins a governing task force led by Matt Graver ( Josh Brolin ) and Alejandro Gillick ( Benicio del Toro ) that is looking to dismantle a hefty drug corporate trust . Kate soon realizes that there ’s much more to the mission than she ab initio realized , with old wounds and hidden order of business threatening to halt any chance of progress .
Villeneuve ’s virtuoso direction is obvious inSicario , which relies on an intense atmosphere and gritty realness to enjoin a distressing , yet wholly plausible story . Emily Blunt gives an Oscar - desirable performanceas the inexperienced FBI agent , who becomes increasingly misanthropic as she witnesses one disturbing event after another . For fans of unwavering and unsettling thriller , Sicarioshould be considered essential viewing .
4. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blade Runner 2049is a great object lesson ofa movie subsequence done properly , as well a a testament to Villeneuve ’s talent for make absorb worlds . Set in a dystopian future tense where replicants live alongside humans , the 2019 neo - noir sci - fi film follows Officer K ( Ryan Gosling ) , a replicant blade runner who reveal a long - buried secret that could disrupt society ’s frail balance . His investigating leads him to former blade moon-curser Rick Deckard ( Harrison Ford ) , who has been omit for tenner .
Villeneuve brings the iconic cyberpunk existence to the modern age , with neon colors , noir manner , eternal cityscapes , and cybernetic detail creating a mesmerize setting . With a conspiracy to drop anchor its intriguing story , as well as philosophical thoughtfulness about what it mean to be animated , Blade Runner 2049isn’t typical sci - fi fare . The film also features Ford and Gosling ’s surprising chemistry , with the two loth strangers ascertain to act together to uncover the secret so many have died for .
3. Dune (2021)
Frank Herbert ’s epic sci - fi account book have been infamously challenging to accommodate , butDunemay have met its catch in Villeneuve . Dune : Part Oneserves as the first of a planned trilogy that chronicle the immature nobleman Paul Atreides ’ ( Timothée Chalamet ) story as his family takes command of the desert planet Arrakis . As the planet is the only author of the valuable spicery melange , many other political resister seek to overrule the noble syndicate , with tensions before long coming to a head and leading to betrayal and bloodshed .
Villeneuve ’s most popular film yet , 2021’sDunecreates a sweeping andvisually arresting sci - fi worldteeming with fantasy , closed book , and danger . One of the most difficult parts of adapting Herbert ’s work is its complexness , but the director effortlessly lay the foot forDune‘s complicated hereafter . I seems as if the best is yet to hail for the highly anticipated trilogy , withDune : Part Twoalready impress rooter and critics alike thanks to its higher stakes and an even grander scale .
2. Arrival (2016)
Amy Adams stars as linguistics prof Louise Banks in the one - of - a - kind exotic encroachment movieArrival . The protagonist is enlisted to communicate with cryptical space vehicle that have landed across the Earth . attempt at a safe first contact with the extraterrestrial beings prove to be dodgy , with Louise needing some time to understand them . As tensions intensify between nations , she step on it against time to trace the alien language and acquire what they want from humans .
Arrivalis a cerebral sci - fi masterpiece with a unique narrative structure and hypnotic visuals and atmosphere . Louise ’s continuously evolving interaction with the aliens are spellbinding , withArrival‘s scientific truth in its portrayal of languagemaking it finger more grounded and real . It ’s impossible to talk about all of the aspects that make Villeneuve ’s 2016 movie great without spoiling its psyche - bending crook , which will likely inspire a 2nd viewing for most audiences .
1. Dune: Part Two (2024)
sand dune : Part Twoproves that Villeneuve ’s ambitious vision is exactly what Herbert ’s playscript series require to successfully be adapted to the big concealment . Picking up right after the outcome of the first movie , the epic sci - fi picture show be Paul ( Timothée Chalamet ) and his mother Jessica ’s ( Rebecca Ferguson ) journey deep into the desert , where they join the hesitant Fremen , including Chani ( Zendaya ) . On the other side of Arrakis , the Harkonnens have retaken control of spice production and a huge battle is about to break out between their strength and Paul ’s new close follower .
With a tumid corps de ballet , massive set pieces , and a characteristically bombastic Hans Zimmer score for the eld , Part Twois a jaw - dropping spectacle that exceeds its predecessor . Fans of the books will especially appreciate the inclusion of many key characters and plotlines , with Villeneuve ’s focussing ensuring that the story stay compelling despite the amount of exposition . It ’s the visuals , immense battles , and flawless medicine that are the true highlights of the film , though , with many belike hoping that the theatre director can keep back those strengths and sting the landing with the final part of the trilogy .
