“The French Dispatch”

Wes Anderson’s Greatest Film

By: Kami Kendall

Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” is a celebration of journalism, the artistic process, and all creatives. Hardcore fans of his work and new viewers alike will be captivated by this anthology of stories centered on the fictional French city of Ennui and its eccentric collection of denizens. 

The fictitious literary magazine after which the film is named is what binds these stories together. Viewers get a first-hand look into the editing process as they journey through the experiences detailed in the monthly Dispatch. Perspectives range from the tortured soul of an incarcerated modern artist to a group of revolutionary student intellectuals at war with authority and, finally, an action-packed hostage situation involving a world-class chef. An ongoing narration of these events that conveys an overflow of details, like that of a novel, requires every bit of the audience’s attention and perhaps even a second viewing.

As Anderson’s world unfurls upon the big screen, one will, of course, find recognizable elements of his trademark style, which will comfort those who have been starved for his content (living without a live-action Anderson movie since 2014). Still, an uncharacteristic instability also makes “The French Dispatch” all the more interesting to watch. Its anthology form allows flexibility of style that ebbs and flows seamlessly from black and white to vivid color to cartoon animation. Despite being perhaps his most ambitious project, largest, star-studded cast, and widest variety of style, it may be his best film yet.