H. T. Davey Reviews

Review by H. T. Davey

The French Dispatch (2021)

★★★

Director: Wes Anderson

The French Dispatch is a unique cinematic experience, filled with bright colours and a passion for film that fills the screen, promoting how Wes Anderson makes a movie … very loudly. Several stories combine to create this anthology comedy film.

All stories have one similarity; they are written by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Hugo Guinness, and Jason Schwartzman. Combined, we have writers helping to pen a film all about the love of cinema, journalism, and quirky characters with stories to tell.

This film comes with an ensembled cast including Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Timothee Chalamet, Frances McDormand, among others. The film details stories including a murderer turned artist in prison, a detailed exposition of young people and their rivalry of different opinions, and another story of a chef assisting police in a hostage situation.

The use of colour expression is a decorous element in The French Dispatch, going from black and white, to vivid polaroid colours is a unique style pleasing to the eye. Instead of a film constructed with a beginning, middle and end, this picture has a different structure with multiple beginnings and ends. It looks and has an eccentric touch, yet well planned and designed by Anderson. One could find this film a little too peculiar, but that is also the fun bit.

The acting throughout The French Dispatch is faultless, each actor plays their part with trueness, integrity, and maturity within the film. Characters being witty and eccentric at times, showing a boldness in their performances that is refreshing.

This Wes Anderson film is an anthology comedy with a star-studded assembled cast, with good writing and direction. A strange and fun film, filled with interesting stories to remember.