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The French Dispatch (2021) Review

Full of Life

SCORE: 84/100

Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton

Synopsis: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in "The French Dispatch Magazine".


****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****


REVIEW:

This is my second Wes Anderson film after watching The Grand Budapest Hotel on the podcast a little while back. So does this one live up to the hype? Yes, but I'd temper your excitement by about 10%.

I'll jump into my two major criticisms first. First is its story. While it's interesting, funny, and well-written, the film really feels like a collection of stories that Anderson couldn't develop into full-length films. The film is supposed to feel like you're reading the eponymous magazine, but aside from loose connections to the overarching narrative, each "section" feels more like a separate story. My second criticism is that I feel the film doesn't really justify its existence. Due to its unconventional structure and style, I never really felt that it was a necessary watch. It feels like it was made purely to fit into Anderson's catalogue. 

However, I do not want my criticisms of the film to detract from how good everything else is about the film. It's a gorgeous film to look at, with every frame packed with so much detail that it's going to demand a rewatch. Anderson uses the entire screen to great effect, managing to actually surprise me at a later point in the film with some unique split screen action. He also uses black and white film mixed with color to a beautiful point.

Acting here is up with Grand Budapest as the entire cast is on their A-Game. My entire review could be filled with just talking about the cast. The true standouts here are Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, and Timothee Chalamet. That's not to discount anyone else's performances though, as everyone truly carries their weight. 

That's about it, I know it's a shorter review, but it's a Wes Anderson film. You can go in expecting it performances, writing, and execution to be near perfect. Even if its structure isn't always 

Conclusion: Despite an odd structure, The French Dispatch is more Wes Anderson goodness to love. It's a funny and extremely well-acted ride that's as fun as it is smart. 

Score: 84/100

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