The French Dispatch

Name: The French Dispatch
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: October 22, 2021
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Adrien Brody, Anjelica Huston, Benicio Del Toro, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban

2021

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Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 196 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 196 Ratings

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The French Dispatch

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Movie Details & Credits

Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 22, 2021 | R

Starring: Adrien Brody, Anjelica Huston, Benicio Del Toro, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Cécile De France, Christoph Waltz, Edward Norton, Elisabeth Moss, Fisher Stevens, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Kate Winslet, Léa Seydoux, Liev Schreiber, Lyna Khoudri, Mathieu Amalric, Morgane Polanski, Owen Wilson, Rupert Friend, Saoirse Ronan, Steve Park, Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Timothée Chalamet, Toheeb Jimoh, Willem Dafoe

Summary: The French Dispatch brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th-century French city.

Director: Wes Anderson

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Vince Mancini

Nov 3, 2021

The French Dispatch feels like a confident and even vulnerable exploration of Anderson’s own psyche; it’s his best film in at least a decade. Read full review

Jesse Hassenger

Oct 1, 2021

Though he’s been accused of re-carving the same dollhouse-scale miniatures over and over again, The French Dispatch finds Anderson continuing to fill out his increasingly elaborate skill set. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Oct 26, 2021

This magazine of a movie is something to be savored, a rarefied delight that’s intellectually aspirational, as the great magazines used to be. It rewards the well-read, the art observer, the film lover, the Francophile and the Wes Anderson fanatic. Read full review

James Mottram

Jul 13, 2021

Another work that could really only come from Anderson’s relentless imagination: exquisite detail, eclectic storylines, superb cast. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Sep 4, 2021

Dispatch often feels like the filmmaker in concentrate form, both his best and worst instincts on extravagant display. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Jul 12, 2021

For all its exquisite construction, though, The French Dispatch doesn’t have much of the sneaky sentimental undercurrent that makes Anderson’s films more than just intellectual exercises. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Oct 18, 2021

The artistic signature is unmistakable — 30 seconds in, you’d know you were watching a Wes Anderson movie. But Anderson’s human connection seems to have short-circuited, so that his irony now bypasses the world and becomes an ironic contemplation of his own work. This is a dead-end, and it’s just not interesting. Read full review

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User Reviews

Coffeelover

May 16, 2022

The film amazes with its picture, it's amazing. It can be compared to a picture that came to life as if in Harry Potter. The spirit and atmosphere of France are perfectly conveyed, and if we talk about music, it fits harmoniously into the overall picture. This movie is author's, not forThe film amazes with its picture, it's amazing. It can be compared to a picture that came to life as if in Harry Potter. The spirit and atmosphere of France are perfectly conveyed, and if we talk about music, it fits harmoniously into the overall picture. This movie is author's, not for everyone. Not very smart people won't understand.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

samichsupernova

Dec 13, 2021

Touching and thought-provoking, especially the first and last stories. An excellent cast evokes nostalgia for a time and place I've never been. The middle article, underutilizing the talents of Frances McDormand and featuring that insufferable kid from Dune, was rather weak, but overall thisTouching and thought-provoking, especially the first and last stories. An excellent cast evokes nostalgia for a time and place I've never been. The middle article, underutilizing the talents of Frances McDormand and featuring that insufferable kid from Dune, was rather weak, but overall this is another artistic home run for Wes Anderson, with lots of laughs and his strong writing in full force. While it never reaches the heights of "The Grand Budapest Hotel", it's the best movie I've seen since "Pig" and a more than worthy entry into his catalog. It's also the first time I've actually felt his artistic flourishes get in the way of his storytelling, as the constant changes in format, color, and even aspect ratio can be jarring from time to time - a minor complaint that I'm sure will be remedied on repeat viewings. I only wish Anderson would make more films, as the wait between his films has become painful.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

theredsky

Nov 18, 2021

Another great film from Wes Anderson. This film focuses on 3 separate stories and all of them are great in their own way but some are definitely better than others. I’ll rank them at the end. All of the performances are great with my particular favorites being from Benecio Del Toro andAnother great film from Wes Anderson. This film focuses on 3 separate stories and all of them are great in their own way but some are definitely better than others. I’ll rank them at the end. All of the performances are great with my particular favorites being from Benecio Del Toro and Jeffrey Wright. Every cast member is fantastic in their role although I wish we saw more of Owen Wilson and Bill Murray. As always, the production design, cinematography, and writing are top notch. Although I like the more streamlined writing of his other films, Anderson does a great job at juggling three different stories here. Some stories are more interesting than others though and that kind of diminishes some of the other ones. I also found this film to be really funny as well. There were a lot of moments were I found myself laughing especially in the first and third story. The third story even goes through an animated segment and while the animation looks rough, it’s intentional. It’s truly something to see on the big screen. My ranking for the stories goes:
3. Revisions to a Manifesto
2. The Concrete Masterpiece
1. The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner
Definitely go see this when you can. It’s a great film.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

benjanzen

Nov 25, 2021

The French Dispatch might have the best production design that I've ever seen in a film. Absolutely astonishing and visually stunning. Wes Anderson filled this film with so much creativity and different filmmaking techniques (even animation!!) that makes it always entertaining andThe French Dispatch might have the best production design that I've ever seen in a film. Absolutely astonishing and visually stunning. Wes Anderson filled this film with so much creativity and different filmmaking techniques (even animation!!) that makes it always entertaining and interesting to watch. Even so, I found it to be a classic case of "style over substance" as I never fully cared about any of the characters or stories being presented.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bertobellamy

Nov 12, 2021

I think Wes Anderson films are all about style; I can hardly remember the story of some of them. I don't think he's a bad director; but, for me, the excess in detail is distracting. 'The French Dispatch' is your typical Wes Anderson movie, and I can't stop wondering if he'll keep on doingI think Wes Anderson films are all about style; I can hardly remember the story of some of them. I don't think he's a bad director; but, for me, the excess in detail is distracting. 'The French Dispatch' is your typical Wes Anderson movie, and I can't stop wondering if he'll keep on doing the same thing when he's 70. It's cool and all, but I wish he tried something else. Nevertheless, his new movie is fun, has good acting, and writes a love letter to journalism, a dying profession.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Faxthtax

Aug 28, 2022

Wes Anderson style is getting tired out. He has done a few movies now with his artistic stylistic style with voice-over storytelling. A style that he pretty much decided to use himself after he saw "Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain". But its getting stale and predictable by now and heWes Anderson style is getting tired out. He has done a few movies now with his artistic stylistic style with voice-over storytelling. A style that he pretty much decided to use himself after he saw "Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain". But its getting stale and predictable by now and he should change direction and find new actors to work with.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

psyberdelic

May 28, 2022

This is a stupid movie... i killed it after ten minutes of fast forwarding to see if there was anything worth watching... save your money... i'm glad it only cost me $1...

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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