Rating of
2.5/4
Style overrules substance for Wes Anderson here
Indyfreak - wrote on 02/05/22
The French Dispatch is as quirky and offbeat as expected for a Wes Anderson movie.
Just as The Grand Budapest Hotel was a pastiche of interwar European literature, The French Dispatch seems enamored by the mid-century artistic and political revolutionary attitudes.
But its three part structure telling three different stories feels disjointed. These segments are amusing on their own but together they appear to be unfocused.
Visually, it’s quite marvelous to look at. Every other shot is beautifu as the last. Set in a fictitious part of France, the sets and visual effects create this environment that seems at once unchanging then experiencing turmoil and upheaval.,
Aside from the visual style, the cast does help elevate the movie. Given how huge the ensemble is, some come and go without leaving an impression. The standouts for me include Adrien Brody, Lea Seydoux, Timothee Chalamet, Frances McDormand, and Jeffrey Wright. Benecio del Toro looks formidable but he just kind of snarls through dialogue. Bill Murray kind of ties all three stories together. He’s not bad but he’s not as interesting as other characters.
The French Dispatch may not be as cohesive as Wes Anderson’s other works, but I think his fans will appreciate it. Others might be left feeling frustrated or tired.
