After waiting a year because of Covid, the latest Wes Anderson film ‘French Dispatch’ has finally been released. On the 18th December my family and I went to the Picturehouse Central Cinema in the West End to watch it.

 

French Dispatch is a romantic comedy that features many of Wes Anderson’s favourite actors who know his unique filming style and understand what is needed from their acting performances. Three of the main stars are Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson. The film tells three interconnected stories in an intricate, rapid style, demanding the audience’s complete concentration.

 

A recent online survey showed that ‘French Dispatch’ was ranked at number six on a list of Wes Anderson’s top ten films. I suspect this may rise further in popularity as more people come to watch it.

 

Wes Anderson’s cinematic style combines creative and artistic presentation of his actors and their surroundings. Often there are many layers of meaning in his choices. For example in ‘French Dispatch’ the artist character paints work that looks very simplistic in a way that mirrors the clarity and directness of his mind.

The cinematography is fast-paced and swift throughout all of Wes Anderson’s films. This moves the story along at speed and gives the impression of a definite destination in the narrative. The colour arrangements that he uses look deceptively simple but have taken careful thought and creative skill. Any scene offers a beautifully balanced and memorable still. He uses colours that work well together, are not heavy on the eye and give an overall pleasant effect.

 

In conclusion, although I would say that ‘French Dispatch’ is not one of Wes Anderson’s best works, I would definitely include it in my top three alongside ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘The Darjeeling Limited’. This film is well worth watching for both the quirky storyline and an arty perspective on life.

By Kamran Seward