The French Dispatch (2021) ****1/2

The French Dispatch (2021), Wes Anderson's ode to journalism (via the likes of Harold Ross, James Baldwin, and more), draws inspiration from (and pays homage to) sources as varied as Jacques Tati, The Adventures Of Tintin, Jean-Pierre Melville, Serge Gainsbourg, and Henri-Georges Clouzot, just to name a few.

In typical Anderson fashion, TFD features an enormous ensemble of famous actors (many of whom have worked with him before), but it also spends a healthy amount of time with a select few charming characters (Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, and Jeffrey Wright being standouts). 

Split into three main stories plus a wraparound, TFD is incredibly dense (even for Anderson), both on the visual and storytelling front. Most of the amazing design, tongue-twisting dialogue, visual effects, animation, and information zips by at lightning pace. And yet there are some slower, more drawn out moments that really shine as well. Alexandre Desplat delivers another wonderful, jaunty score. 

As happens often with WA films, this was my second time seeing TFD in the theater. I really needed that repeat viewing to soak up more of the details. Love him or hate him (I fall into the former category—he remains one of my Top 20 Directors), the man has a style and he stays true to it. As he did with The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) (my review here), Anderson uses both black & white and color stock, at least two (as per IMDb, but I thought I counted three) different aspect ratios, and split-screen—all to great effect and never distractingly.

I've seen it written elsewhere that this, his tenth feature, is a bit like an Anderson "greatest hits" package. I do get that sense, particularly because of the multiple storylines, non sequiturs, and the trademark camera movements. But there's also a certain sadness present at times, that, while perhaps not quite as deeply explored as in the first half of Anderson's films so far, hasn't been as much of a driving force since The Darjeeling Limited (2007).

You can find my Wes Anderson Feature Films Ranked list here.