Post by chalametthegreat on Oct 30, 2021 21:31:34 GMT -8
I just saw The French Dispatch this evening. It came out in my local theatre and I wanted to show some support before enjoying Halloween tomorrow. I was the only one in the theatre unfortunately. Now it was the last showing on a Saturday night, but I sill think this type of film is just hard to get mainstream appeal beyond passionate film fans and more dareisay urban cultural people.
I also want to admit before I say a few words that I am not familiar with Wes Anderson's most celebrated movies. I know I know how dare I call myself a film fan?! It is just that I'm more of a Disney, Marvel, science fiction, fantasy, history or DUNE movie type of person which is what I tend to spend money on in the theatres. Surprise surprise right?!
That being said, I saw The Life Acquatic with Steve Zissou when I was in college and I absolutely love that film. Just a great cast including my film crush since I was a boy Cate Blanchett. Also, Owen Wilson and Bill Murray give great performances as well as a hilarious cameo by that legendary man Jeff Goldblum. Critics didnt review the film highly at the time, but it has since become a cult classic I read. But I digress ...
My point being that I havent seen yet Wes Anderson's best work to compare. But I did like the French Dispatch. I majored in English with a Journalism concentration in college so I highly enjoyed the dialogue and words. I thought the framing of the movie around Bill Murray was cool and he makes me laugh. The last scene at the end not to spoil for anyone was hilarious.
Out of the three main magazine stories in the movie, Timothees was the best and I am not just saying that as a Timothee fan. I knew nothing about the May 1968 French protests, but now I do since i have read about them after viewing the film. Good art always inspires you to learn more about the world, people and history. I thought the concept of a chessboard revolution was genius and funny as I love the game of chess. Why cant we sort out all our conflicts in this manner?!
I was surprised how prominent a role Timothee had in this story. With such a large cast, Timothee is definitely one of THE main stars of the French Dispatch which is quite a complement. He was really engaging and funny in this movie as a revolutionary French student Zeffirelli. I'm more conservative at heart so I sometimes roll my eyes at the excess of protests. I thought the film did a good job celebrating the purity of the students' motivations but also highlighting some of the absurdities. Timothee's performance was one of his best. And his talents are really enhanced when he is surrounded by great actors like Frances McDormand whom he can verbally spar with such as in their bedroom scene.
Besides the May 1968 storyline, the first one about the prisoner artist was my second favorite followed by the third one. I didnt understand the third story too much. But I just want to say it should be required by law for Jeffrey Wright to narrate anything. Watch him in Westworld especially the first season ... amazing performance! And I thought the first story about the tortured prisoner artist had some funny scenes such as the prisoner attack during the wall art showing. I think I need to see the movie several times to see all the characters reactions. One I caught was the old Kansas collector pulling out a gun like a good Kansas woman! And finally Tilda Swinton has been delighting me since she played the White Witch of Narnia ... brilliant character actor!
I can see how Wes Anderson films are either boring as hell to some people or the high art of cinema to some fans. Now that I've seen two of the movies, my thinking is that his films generally improve with age as you catch more visuals on repeat viewings. And I appreciate the humanity given even to the weirdest and most quirky characters. I will probably see Dune a million times before I die, but I'm glad I saw The French Dispatch and would watch again but not as often as say Dune haha. Timothee did excellent here in a more substantial role than I expected. Bravo!
I also want to admit before I say a few words that I am not familiar with Wes Anderson's most celebrated movies. I know I know how dare I call myself a film fan?! It is just that I'm more of a Disney, Marvel, science fiction, fantasy, history or DUNE movie type of person which is what I tend to spend money on in the theatres. Surprise surprise right?!
That being said, I saw The Life Acquatic with Steve Zissou when I was in college and I absolutely love that film. Just a great cast including my film crush since I was a boy Cate Blanchett. Also, Owen Wilson and Bill Murray give great performances as well as a hilarious cameo by that legendary man Jeff Goldblum. Critics didnt review the film highly at the time, but it has since become a cult classic I read. But I digress ...
My point being that I havent seen yet Wes Anderson's best work to compare. But I did like the French Dispatch. I majored in English with a Journalism concentration in college so I highly enjoyed the dialogue and words. I thought the framing of the movie around Bill Murray was cool and he makes me laugh. The last scene at the end not to spoil for anyone was hilarious.
Out of the three main magazine stories in the movie, Timothees was the best and I am not just saying that as a Timothee fan. I knew nothing about the May 1968 French protests, but now I do since i have read about them after viewing the film. Good art always inspires you to learn more about the world, people and history. I thought the concept of a chessboard revolution was genius and funny as I love the game of chess. Why cant we sort out all our conflicts in this manner?!
I was surprised how prominent a role Timothee had in this story. With such a large cast, Timothee is definitely one of THE main stars of the French Dispatch which is quite a complement. He was really engaging and funny in this movie as a revolutionary French student Zeffirelli. I'm more conservative at heart so I sometimes roll my eyes at the excess of protests. I thought the film did a good job celebrating the purity of the students' motivations but also highlighting some of the absurdities. Timothee's performance was one of his best. And his talents are really enhanced when he is surrounded by great actors like Frances McDormand whom he can verbally spar with such as in their bedroom scene.
Besides the May 1968 storyline, the first one about the prisoner artist was my second favorite followed by the third one. I didnt understand the third story too much. But I just want to say it should be required by law for Jeffrey Wright to narrate anything. Watch him in Westworld especially the first season ... amazing performance! And I thought the first story about the tortured prisoner artist had some funny scenes such as the prisoner attack during the wall art showing. I think I need to see the movie several times to see all the characters reactions. One I caught was the old Kansas collector pulling out a gun like a good Kansas woman! And finally Tilda Swinton has been delighting me since she played the White Witch of Narnia ... brilliant character actor!
I can see how Wes Anderson films are either boring as hell to some people or the high art of cinema to some fans. Now that I've seen two of the movies, my thinking is that his films generally improve with age as you catch more visuals on repeat viewings. And I appreciate the humanity given even to the weirdest and most quirky characters. I will probably see Dune a million times before I die, but I'm glad I saw The French Dispatch and would watch again but not as often as say Dune haha. Timothee did excellent here in a more substantial role than I expected. Bravo!