Movie Breakdown: The French Dispatch

Pre-Screening Stance:

The French Dispatch is a Wes Anderson movie. So, yeah, I want to see it.

Post-Screening Ramble:

For the majority of The French Dispatch, I couldn’t figure out what the point of any of it was. The movie itself is framed inside of a publication called The French Dispatch, which is run by Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray), and it features asides/stories from its writers, including Herbsaint Sazerac (Owen Wilson), J. K. L. Berensen (Tilda Swinton), Lucinda Krementz (Frances McDormand) and Roebuck Wright (Jeffrey Wright). The tales themselves are all very Wes Anderson, meaning they’re as quirky as can be. They’re also not particularly engaging. This is a film that’s certainly very easy on the eyes, as Anderson directs the hell out of every scene, and the cast is so loaded with familiar faces that there’s always someone new to perk up for, but I was steadily surprised at how hollow it felt. And the meaning of it all that kept dodging me? Well, it comes into focus near the end of the film, and it seemed to be Anderson declaring to the world that the life of a good storyteller – such as himself – is lonely and difficult. Insert eye roll. Anderson is a talented writer/director and I will happily dive into whatever he does next, but The French Dispatch is him in a full-on pretentious tilt, and I just wasn’t all that into it.

This is very much one where “your mileage may vary.” The French Dispatch hits theaters this Friday, October 22.

One Last Thought:

Obviously, this film has a very talented cast and all of them turn in good performances, but – in my opinion – it’s Benicio Del Toro that stands above everyone else. He brings a little something extra to the usual Wes Anderson shtick and in turn it makes his Moses Rosenthaler a rather memorable character.