Director Analysis: Denis Villeneuve￼

A Look Inside the Films of Denis Villeneuve

Most cinephiles likely know Denis Villeneuve for bursting onto the scene with 2013’s Prisoners. However, the truth of the matter is that he has been directing excellent movies for well over 20 years now. With Dune just around the corner (later this month to be exact), it is time to look at his filmography and some of his unique stylistic innovations and traits. Villeneuve is poised to vault up onto my favorite director list in future years—especially if he can put together a 2020’s decade that resembles his 2010’s decade in the slightest. He’s a perfectionist who is also prolific. I honestly can’t wait to see what a few years of preparation means for Dune. Most other directors that are both this brilliant and prolific work in a smaller range / scope of filmmaking. But Villeneuve makes films on a big scale—his 2015-2017 back to back to back of Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049 is utterly inexplicable. He has often been compared to Christopher Nolan and I see some similarities—but a Nolan film looks and feels like a Nolan film—I’d compare him a little closer a 1970’s and early 1980’s Ridley Scott—and not just because of the Blade Runner connection- a spectacular visual filmmaker, works often in the science fiction genre, that doesn’t have an indefinable signature style– though I may be remedying that with closer study– Villeneuve’s best work seems to be in silhouette. Let’s dive into some of those innovations and traits that make his films so incredibly beautiful.

Stylistic Innovations & Traits

Villeneuve has an intuitive understanding of how best to wield the tools of his trade – editing, cinematography, lighting, sound design – and, crucially, he surrounds himself with innovative craftspeople. A lot of Villeneuve’s work is connected with his collaborations with Roger Deakins & Hans Zimmer—but he’s clearly not dependent on any of them as he’s made great work without each and every one of the collaborators, too. His films fully immerse his audience in the story he’s telling. Villeneuve has always been fascinated with exploring the relationship between mankind and the environment, often portraying humans as aliens in their own world, and the craft choices he makes serve this juxtaposition of the familiar and the uncanny. Here he uses silhouette shots, helicopter shots—brilliant establishing shots to create an even deeper contrast between these themes. It has often been said that Villeneuve has prolific output but also works on a big canvas- virtually unheard of in 21^st century filmmaking. He creates breathtaking visuals, has intense color tinting and he is a master of lighting and shadows.

Ranking All 9 Denis Villeneuve Films

There’s really no such thing as a bad Denis Villeneuve film, just lesser and greater ones, like many of the directors I have analyzed in the past. It may have taken him a while to find his footing (really until the 2010s), but he’s quickly become one of the most interesting and exciting filmmakers working today. He is probably considered one of my top 5 favorite directors of all time and I will often rotate his top 4 films based on how I am feeling at the time. They are all honestly so good…