The Oscars 2025 nominations are here and they've brought their usual snubs and surprises with them. The one that stood out to me the most – besides Denzel Washington not securing a nod for his villainous turn in Gladiator 2 – was Denis Villeneuve once again being passed over for Best Director.
Frank Herbert's novel has long been thought of as extremely difficult to adapt, but Villeneuve – following in the footsteps of the late David Lynch – did the impossible not once but twice. Dune: Part Two was my favorite film of 2024 (and GamesRadar+'s best movie of 2024, too) and I was blown away by its sheer cinematic scope, epic action, and stunning performances. None of that would've made it to the screen without a superlative director at the helm, and it's clearer now than ever before that Villeneuve is a master of his craft. So, why is the Academy so reluctant to nominate him for his directing work on Dune?
