Chris Hewitt (ReView Editor):I see Wes
Anderson’s made his film again.
John Nugent (News Editor):Ah, now,
people always say that, as if it’s an insult. But
I like his film! He makes a good film.
Chris:I liked his film when it wasThe Royal
Tenenbaums. I’ve liked it less and less since.
It’s been Wes Anderson’s Diminishing Returns.
John:It’s Increasing Returns, if you ask me.
The Grand Budapest Hotelwas a masterpiece.
Chris:In fairness, I did like that.
Ben Travis (Online Staff Writer):I think
he’s been on a real streak.
James Dyer (Digital Editor-In-Chief ):
I am not here for his whimsy. I find him twee
and irritating.
John:Great. Glad to have you on board.
Alex Godfrey (Acting Features Editor):
I like his aesthetic.
John:My understanding is this is a kind of
anthology film. Three short stories centred
around this fictional news,New Yorker-
esque magazine, based in Paris.
Nick de Semlyen (Acting Editor):This
office looks a bit nicer than ours. No exposed
wiring.
John:So symmetrical!
Jamie Inglis (Deputy Art Director):It
feels like this is going to be like a film version
of a magazine. There’s going to be sidebars.
Chris:Is this exterior a set, or has he found
the perfect Wes Anderson-y location
somewhere in France?
John:I think maybe a mix? He likes to use
miniatures a lot. Most of the exteriors for
The Grand Budapest Hotelwere miniatures.
Alex:He does treat his worlds like a
doll house.
Ben:“Just try to make it sound like you
wrote it on purpose.” Do you aspire to be
like Bill Murray as an editor, Nick?
Nick:Absolutely. Specifically, Bill Murray
asGarfield.
Ben:The first story is about an artist, but
also a political revolt or something?
John:Which story is in black-and-white?
Chris:I think the stories that are
recounted by the journalists are retold in
black-and-white.
Ben:Timothée Chalamet in the bath is
giving all the Chalamet fans exactly what
they want.
Chris:What fresh fruit is he getting fruity
with this time?
John:He’s got a whole fruit bowl in there.
Jamie:Do you reckon Timothée Chalamet
might be a young Bill Murray?
Joanna Moran (Photography Director):
He looks like a young Bob Dylan in this film.John:He’s supposed to be actually starring
as Bob Dylan in something. James Mangold
is apparently directing it. But he somehow
looks more Dylan-esque in this.
Ben:The cast list is crazy. It’s basically
‘Cameos: The Movie’.
Alex:It’s a credit to Wes Anderson that
everyone is lining up to work with him.
Joanna:Are any of them playing real people?
Ben:I’d guess they might be inspired by real
people, in the same wayThe Life Aquaticwas
inspired by Jacques Cousteau.
John:There are a lot of images that don’t
really make sense out of context. They’re not
giving a lotaway.Which I quite like. No idea
what’s going on here, for example.
Ben:That’s why it’s hard not to look at
these trailers and say, “He’s made his film
again,” because you don’t really get a sense
of the story. It’s just the visual style that
comes through.
Chris:It’s not going to convert anyone. If
you’re a Wes Anderson agnostic, you’re not
going to rush out and see this immediately.
Alex:Wasn’tGrand Budapesthis biggest
hit ever?
John:I think he’s been slowly accumulating
an audience over the years. He’s pretty
mainstream, as far as arty indie directors go.
Joanna:He’s not pandering to anyone.
John:Jeffrey Wright seems to be on some
sort of late-night talk show. Still no idea.
Ben:It took me so long to realise that Tony
Revolori is both theGrand Budapestguy and
Flash from theSpider-Manfilm. That is range!
Nick:We should get a ‘No crying ’ sign in
the office.
Ben:Are you also going to get an ‘Issue-In
Progress’ corkboard?
Nick:Yes. And everything in the office will
be symmetrical.
Alex:Wait, is that the full title? ‘The
French Dispatch Of The Liberty Kansas
Evening Sun’?
Nick:It’s gone fullFantabulous
Emancipation Of Harley Quinn!
Alex:Even though I haven’t emotionally
engaged with his last few films, I really love
him. I love his worlds and his aesthetic. I’m
always excited to watch his films. Every shot
is brilliant. I love that he exists.
Joanna:That’s it. I’m so excited to see this.
I didn’t understand at all what this film is
about. But I will go see it. I love the look of it.
Alex:It does look a bit like a parody of a Wes
Anderson film. But at the same time, he’s the
only person in the world making these films.THE FRENCH DISPATCHIS IN CINEMAS FROM 13 AUGUSTUnfiltered, uncensored, uncompromising trailer reactions from teamEMPIRE
The French Dispatch
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