Here is our review of The French Dispatch, the latest film by Wes Anderson, which tells four stories from the newspaper of the same name
ORIGINAL TITLE: The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun. GENRE: Comedy / drama. COUNTRY: United States / Germany. DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson. CAST: Benicio del Toro, Léa Seydoux, Adrien Brody, Frances McDormand. Timothée Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Bill Murray. DURATION: 108 minutes. PROUTION: Searchlight Pictures, Americal Empirical Pictures, Indian Paintbrush. ITALIAN DISTRIBUTION: Searchlight Pictures. RELEASE: November 11, 2021.
Long live the cinema, long live Wes Anderson! After a three-year break due also and above all to the covid, we were able to go back to admire the crazy symmetrical direction of the American filmmaker. He had left us with rapt eyes with Isle of Dogs and he left us speechless with this one again The French Dispatch. Let’s proceed in order and let’s start with the movie trailer!
La trama | Review the French Dispatch
The French Dispatch is a newspaper based in France, in the town of Ennui. Upon the death of its director Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray), publication is suspended, leaving room for a final issue, in which three articles from past editions of the newspaper are republished, plus an obituary. We then move on to the narration of the four stories: The cycling reporter, in which the city of Ennui is described from the point of view of the reporter / cyclist (Owen Wilson); The Concrete masterpiece, which deals with the story of the imprisoned artist Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio, the bull); Revisions to a Manifesto, in which a journalist (Frances McDormand) experiences firsthand a youth revolution led by Zeffirelli (Timothée Chalamet); and finally The Police Commissioner’s Private Dining Room, where the cuisine of the lieutenant-chef Nescaffier is told (Stephen Park).
The structure of the film | The French Dispatch Review
On the direction by Wes Anderson there is no need to dwell: nothing more and nothing less than what we know, or almost. On the other hand, the novelty should be emphasized structure of the film which, as we have already said, is presented as an anthology. Each chapter is independent, with the exception of the last scene, in which the journalist on duty confronts the editor of the newspaper. This is an unprecedented choice for Anderson, who has always favored a more linear treatment of history. Precisely in this characteristic lies the clear detachment of The French Dispatch from the other works of the director. If in his previous films the plot was one of the engines of the film, next to the unique style in which it was transposed, here it is not so. In his latest work, the director decides to challenge the audience and his attention, condensing great stories, which would deserve at least one film each, in a few minutes.
Accidentally Wes Anderson | Review The French Dispatch
Quoting the page that pays homage to the director, we enter the Ennui told in The French Dispatch. The introductory chapter of the cyclist, although it seems out of context and almost a personal favor of Anderson to Owen Wilson to appear in this film of his, is fundamental. The town in its variety is shown to us with irony and gives us the necessary weapons so as not to get lost in the course of the following stories. Wes Anderson’s style explodes, even with noteworthy ideas behind the camera, which lead The French Dispatch to at times resemble the great masterpieces of the early years of cinema. In addition to an important use of the black and white we also have a lot of technically effective gimmicks and a lot obsolete, but in the Andersonian world they clash wonderfully. Honestly, in his unique and recognizable style, it is truly a miracle to be constantly surprised. Still, Wes does it every time.
Conclusions | The French Dispatch Review
The French Dispatch is indisputably one of the best films of the year and, in the chaos of releases this month, it is certainly one of the titles not to be missed. The known qualities of the director (the symmetry, the colors, the direction) are accompanied by some you find brilliant noteworthy and from a spectacular cast with tons of top notch names. There structure of the film is unique in Wes Anderson’s filmography and this allows this film to stand out above the others, in the Olympus of his best films, along with Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom. If you love cinema, go and see it!
Wes Anderson at full power
Points in favor
- It’s a Wes Anderson film
- The original narrative structure
Points against
- The lack of a unique storyline can annoy someone
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