Denis Villeneuve is, in my opinion, a rather brilliant filmmaker. His 2016 film, ARRIVAL, is one of the best science fiction films ever, imho. I also love his part one of DUNE, and I look forward with great anticipation to part two. But I also found these comments by him in a recent article (linked below) to be quite "interesting."
Villeneuve said: "If I could've made movies without any dialogue, it would have been paradise. Dialogue for me belongs to theater or television. I'm not someone who remembers movies because of their lines. I remember movies because of their images, because of the ideas that unfold through images. That's the power of cinema. For me, it's not about dialogue. I hope one day I will be able to make a movie with as little dialogue as possible. That's why silent movies were so powerful and ... still today, the best movies. Normally, a great movie — you should be able to watch it without sound. And that's the ultimate goal."
When I was studying film in college I had similar ideas. I felt a film should stand on its own visually, and I still love silent film. Perhaps a part of me still believes this. Like Villeneuve, I am often much more affected by the visuals than the dialogue. Of course, this is not always the case for me (so many films/shows have incredible and memorable dialogue). But, perhaps it's why I put a lot of camera and editing direction in my first screenplay. I'm trying to do less of that now and let the director do that stuff.
What are your thoughts?
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/28/1234472127/dune-denis-villeneuve
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I love writing dialogue probably because it's my best skill. So it's easy for me to disagree with DV. I think in life, in the world around us, there is so much noise, sound, dialogue. Living in a big city, you can't go 5 feet without hearing someone talking, so the idea that film is a reflection of life when your reality is constant immersion in conversations all around you and engagement with people on a daily basis makes more sense to the types of films I write (comedies, horror). But for DV, he makes large budget Sci-Fi where if it gets too talky or explain-y with all the rules of the world and exposition about what's what, it can actually detract from the overall experience, so it makes sense for him.
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Tucker Teague , I agree with you about ARRIVAL. It is so outstanding. I don't necessarily agree with Villeneuve but I do believe images are powerful and essential. Sometimes the dichotomy between the visuals and the words make the story even more powerful. Villeneuve is a director who loves visual art and movement. Others sway more towards music or language and semiotics. That's what is so great about film!
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Denis Villeneuve is a brilliant filmmaker, Tucker Teague, and I respect his opinion. I think dialogue definitely belongs in movies. Dialogue is one of the most powerful things in movies, and great dialogue is one of the reasons I watch movies. Watching visuals for too long with no dialogue makes me bored, unless the movie is really exciting.
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While I admire Denis Villeneuve's philosophy on film, there is a need for balance when it comes to tell a story. One can't come without the other, but I do think that visuals are as important as the dialogue. I believe in symbolism. Vince Gilligan and co. are a great example of that.
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I learned the same in film school as well. On one end of the spectrum are films told entirely through the image and little to no dialogue. The opposite end of the spectrum would be the stage play with only dialogue and very little of the modern sets that we see now on Broadway.
Some recent movies that are close to little to no dialogue would be Drive, A Quiet Place, Wild. On the other end would be movies like 12 Angry Men, Glengary Glen Ross, The Hateful Eight, and most limited location movies like Buried and Locke.
I can't think of any TV shows with little to no dialogue outside of cartoons. Animation can easily be done without dialogue and there are several examples of movies and TV shows without much dialogue.
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Pat Alexander I love writing dialog too. I can't say it's my best skill, but I do enjoy it. And I think you're right, one's personal context and experience as well as the kind of stories and setting for those stories plays a hug role in whether dialog is going to be a major feature or more muted. More power to DV for doing what he likes, but he just likes what he likes and that's okay but not definitive.
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Niki H Yes, I love how nearly infinite film is in its possibilities.
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Maurice Vaughan 5 One of my favorite films is MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, a two hour conversation over dinner. I find it so compelling. And yet I also like films with very little dialog. I think the key is to find what works for the story.
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Marcel Nault Jr. I agree. Usually the most compelling films/shows are going to be a balance between dialog and visuals, one supporting the other and vice versa.
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Christopher Phillips All great films you mentioned. Regarding tv, I wonder if it has to do with the fact that often people turn away from the screen, doing other things, etc., and focus more on listening to the story.
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I agree, Tucker Teague ("I think the key is to find what works for the story"). I keep hearing about "My Dinner with Andre." I need to check it out.
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Maurice Vaughan 5 My Dinner with Andre is literally just two talking over dinner, but I find it wonderful. And if you've ever seen Waiting for Guffman... https://youtu.be/5WwZkbAvBtk?si=3mAPgiEdfFjmzbtv
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Watching a character "think" can be a powerful way to draw an audience in. The Robert Redford movie "All is Lost" is a facinating watch, as you are just watching him problem solve with no dialogue.
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Ewan Dunbar Yes, great example and excellent film.
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There is a story about Harrison Ford telling a screenwriter to drop some dialogue because he could just deliver that meaning with just "a look." Sometimes, after all the build-up to that point in the story, that's really all that's needed.
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Christopher Phillips This is where, I believe, a director and actor(s) can take what the screenplay is giving and "translating" it to the screen, perhaps cutting dialog and choosing other means. Therefore, I would think screenwriters shouldn't worry about if there's too much or too little dialog (other than focusing on what's good for the story).
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I agree with him... I really like films that don't have loads of dialogue in them actually and when I'm writing I find I write more action than dialogue sometimes. Not 1000% sure if that's a good thing or not but that seems to be the way I do it.