Wes Anderson is a truly beloved and valued member of the film industry. Wes Anderson demonstrates complete aesthetic mastery in his new movie ‘The French Dispatch’. All of his typical whistles and bells are present and more amazing than ever. To my surprise, The French Dispatch is overflowing with new ideas we haven’t seen before and breathtaking experimentation that worked so very well on screen. The French Dispatch feels as though Wes is expanding and thickening his, already brilliant, repertoire. Wes’ constant play with the black and white, aspect of radio and text on the screen is so refreshing and feels so genuinely new and exciting, even for Wes Anderson, a filmmaker who has always stood in the spotlight. Seeing a Wes Anderson movie is an experience. A breathtaking journey from beginning to end. A Wes movie is always worth seeing. To see an artist with such a specific singular vision continue to push and push said vision to the next level is frankly inspiring and a pleasure for all. 

 

The French Dispatch was everything I wanted and more! I know that on my inevitable 10th watch I would give it five stars, so I might as well take one for the team and give it five stars now. That being said, stars don’t matter with Wes Anderson movies. I loved it. I had a great time at the cinema. What else is there? I watched this movie at my favourite cinema with my dad, a fellow Wes Anderson lover. Needless to say, we were both stunned when walking out of the cinema laughing and promising to watch more of his work together.

 

Wes Anderson returns with a vibrant movie devoted not only to the lengthy list of influential writers, but to writing itself. For me, this movie felt as though it was a love letter to a journalist’s notepad and its importance to the modern world. In one hour and forty-three minutes, Wes devises stories composed by a group of writers at a local magazine, the dazzling French Dispatch. The film opens with a lively introduction to the magazine's office. A narrator reads an article from the French Dispatch’s final edition: the nostalgic obituary of its creator. To the surprise of no one, the film is engulfed with the iconic Wes Anderson features: symmetrical shots follow witty whip pans, smart cuts link comical monologues, and ingenious compositions reveal a background with rich details filled with vivid colours immersing the entirety of the screen. This movie is incredibly charming and exquisitely shot, in true Wes Anderson style - the film, as expected, is delightful eye candy. 

 

There is a line within the movie Bill Murray delivers, saying: “Just try to make it seem like you wrote it that way on purpose”. I feel as though this movie was a delectable tribute to writers and journalism. The cast was absolutely incredible in this movie. I, myself, am a very big fan of the French-American actor Timothée Chalamet, so when I saw him collaborating with one of my favourite directors, I knew the final product would be something worth watching. The lines delivered by each and every actor were impeccable. They were able to take the simplest line and deliver it to result in it having some sort of comical value. I chuckled to myself multiple times at the cinema and was so glad I was amused during this movie. 

 

I think that it is safe to say that: Wes Anderson has truly out Wes Andersoned himself here, I’m obsessed.