The time has come for another Wes Anderson movie. That may sound like a common occurrence but it’s been a surprising six years since his last live-action film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. That film’s mild leap forward in narrative maturity (it seemed to directly comment upon the worth of Anderson’s whimsy in a garbage world) has me more excited than normal - and I’m usually pretty darn excited! - to see where he goes from there. And now we have a trailer for what that looks like, even though we all knew exactly what it was going to look like:
All the hallmarks are here, and yet I never tire of it. The French Dispatch appears to sport a structure built around short stories published by the titular magazine, making it seem almost like a vague anthology film filled with Wes Anderson regulars and actors who were born to be Wes Anderson regulars and are just now getting their chance.
This is of course non-negotiable viewing and I’ve even tried to heighten my writing style in its presence. The French Dispatch will continue Kansas’ very good year July 24, offering an intellectual respite amongst a sea of (well, maybe two or three) superhero films. Enjoy it, and then discuss it over absinthe in a quiet cafe adorned with a series of tasteful nudes.