It was made by one of modern cinema’s most famous directors.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 14 March) is The French Dispatch, the 2021 anthology comedy-drama from cult director Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Royal Tenebaums).
Described by Anderson as a “love letter to journalists”, the film centres around the titular, fictional American magazine published in 20th-century France.
When the editor (Bill Murray) of The French Dispatch dies of a heart attack, his will expresses a wish that the publication put out one final farewell issue.
The movie is comprised of three main storylines, each representing one of the magazine’s last articles.
The first story is about a prisoner who becomes a world-famous artist (Benicio del Toro), the second is about a young student revolutionary (Timothée Chalamet) and the third is about a kidnapping plot involving a chef (Stephen Park).
As typical with Anderson’s productions, The French Dispatch boasts a massive ensemble cast including Adrien Brody, Christoph Waltz, Edward Norton, Elizabeth Moss, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Léa Seydoux, Liev Schreiber, Owen Wilson, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton and Willem Dafoe.
The movie’s whimsical tone and its Russian nesting doll-esque storytelling will certainly not win over any cinephiles who are not already fans of the divisive filmmaker.
That said, for those attuned to his wavelength, there is lots to love in the 2021 comedy-drama, with its story gradually evolving into a melancholic ode to a specific time in journalism that may have since passed.
A box office hit upon release, The French Dispatch is airing on Film4 tonight at 11.20pm. It is also available to stream on Disney+
Here are the other movies on TV tonight:
Jack Reacher – Film4 – 9pm
Tom Cruise returns as the titular nomadic vigilante in this lackluster sequel.
Terminator Genisys – E4 – 9pm
One of the lesser Terminator sequels.
The Sweeney – Legend – 9pm
Ray Winstone headlines this modern reboot of the gritty British cop drama series.
Tremors II: Aftershocks – Legend Xtra – 9pm
The first sequel to the 1990 cult classic monster horror comedy.
Romeo + Juliet – BBC One (except Scotland and Wales) – 10.40pm
Baz Luhrmann’s beloved modernised adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
Medusa Deluxe – BBC Two – 11.05pm
This well-liked 2022 British murder mystery is set at a competitive hairdressing contest.
@joedotie Gowan ‘In Bruges’ 🇮🇪😍 Ralph Fiennes chatted to JOE about working with Colin Farrell on ‘In Bruges’ 👏 He also explains the truth behind the viral ‘28 Years Later’ suspected Cillian Murphy zombie 👀 #ireland #irish #dublin #cillianmurphy #colinfarrell #brendanGleeson ♬ original sound – JOE.ie
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