
The French Dispatch
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Nostalgic tribute to expat writers has nudity, language.

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The French Dispatch
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Based on 4 parent reviews
I thought I was a fan.
Quirky, witty, star/studded visual feast
What's the Story?
THE FRENCH DISPATCH is writer-director Wes Anderson's nostalgic homage to 20th century newspaper and magazine writers and foreign correspondents. The movie's title refers to the name of a fictional American newspaper's magazine supplement: The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun. The film follows the publication's editor, Arthur Howlitzer Jr. (Bill Murray), and his eclectic group of writers in the 1960s and '70s in the fictional town of Ennui-sur-Blasé. It shows four different stories and the writers responsible for them. There's a local-color piece by photojournalist Herbsaint Sazerac (Owen Wilson); "The Concrete Masterpiece," an in-depth profile of imprisoned artist Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio Del Toro) by arts & culture writer J.K.L. Berensen (Tilda Swinton); and "Revisions to a Manifesto," a feature about a 1960s youth revolt in Paris by Lucinda Krementz (Frances McDormand), which stars Timothée Chalamet as one of the main protesting revolutionaries. In another vignette, James Baldwin-inspired writer Roebuck Wright (Jeffrey Wright) recalls, via a talk show, one of his most thrilling stories -- "The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner" -- about a law enforcement officer (Mathieu Amalric) whose son was abducted while Roebuck was visiting him for a dinner prepared by a renowned chef.
Is It Any Good?
The auteur theory lives on in Anderson's well-performed, intricately staged homage to a time when editors and journalists were believed -- and beloved. While it's not necessary to read the New Yorker archives to enjoy The French Dispatch, it helps to be familiar with Baldwin, Lillian Ross, Mavis Gallant, Joseph Mitchell, Wallace Shawn, and other members of the United States' mid-20th century literati. All of the actors, whether longtime Anderson company members or new additions to his ensemble, seem to be having a grand time, but the standout heavy lifting is done by Wright, McDormand, Chalamet (whose role was reportedly written specifically for him), and Swinton. Léa Seydoux gives a mostly wordless (and nude) performance as Del Toro's prison guard/lover/muse. Wilson, Brody, Murray, and the gang are fun to watch, naturally, but Anderson's films aren't as much about the actors as they are about the director himself.
Here's where Anderson and his crew shine: the intricate set-building and art direction. Every detail in The French Dispatch, from the hilarious "The Kids Are Grumpy" graffiti to the prison-art gallery pieces to the mannered hair and costumes, looks as purposeful and precise as in a stop-action film. Part of that meticulous style, however, is that the emotional core of Anderson's films is secondary to the overall aesthetic. One needn't be a film student to pick out what Anderson's movies look like, but what they make audiences feel is a different story. There's laughter, there's melancholy, there's appreciation of everything from the clever character and place names to the absurdity of Tony Revolori and Del Toro playing the same character at different stages in his adult life. But ultimately, the movie remains emotionally at a distance, and for a story about journalists, that may be appropriate ("journalistic neutrality" is remarked upon at least four or five times), but it's also a bit disappointing. Go for the iconic Anderson touches, stay for a few notable moments and scenes, and recall the great foreign correspondents of the past, but don't expect some grand revelation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about which of the various "stories" in The French Dispatch you feel is the most compelling. What resonated with you about it?
The French Dispatch has a lot of comedy, but it's also violent. Is stylized violence less intense than realistic violence? What about the sex? How is it portrayed? What values are imparted?
Do you think it helps to know about the real journalists that the movie is paying tribute to? What if you're not familiar with the historical references? Does the movie still work?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 22, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: December 28, 2021
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet , Elisabeth Moss , Owen Wilson
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Searchlight Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: History
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: graphic nudity, some sexual references, and language
- Last updated: September 14, 2023
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