Hi everyone,

My latest film music review is of the score for the new Wes Anderson comedy THE FRENCH DISPATCH, with music by Alexandre Desplat.

https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/11/09/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat/

Enjoy

Jon

> Hi everyone,

> My latest film music review is of the score for the new Wes Anderson
> comedy THE FRENCH DISPATCH, with music by Alexandre Desplat.

> https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/11/09/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat/

> Enjoy

> Jon

I find it fascinating that our two biggest disagreements (especially since I find myself agreeing with your reviews more than anyone else’s, except perhaps Bennett’s on occasion) are on Wes Anderson, and on Desplat scoring Wes Anderson. The former I find quite visually appealing and fascinating to watch (if not traditionally funny), and the latter (especially Moonrise Kingdom and Grand Budapest Hotel) to be wondrously catchy in their rhythmic devices.

> I find it fascinating that our two biggest disagreements (especially since
> I find myself agreeing with your reviews more than anyone else’s, except
> perhaps Bennett’s on occasion) are on Wes Anderson, and on Desplat scoring
> Wes Anderson. The former I find quite visually appealing and fascinating
> to watch (if not traditionally funny), and the latter (especially Moonrise
> Kingdom and Grand Budapest Hotel) to be wondrously catchy in their
> rhythmic devices.

Well, this *is* the first Wes Anderson Desplat score I haven't liked. Fox, Budapest, and Isle of Dogs all got positive reviews from me. Moonrise was more middling, but I did come away with some positives.

> Well, this *is* the first Wes Anderson Desplat score I haven't liked. Fox,
> Budapest, and Isle of Dogs all got positive reviews from me. Moonrise was
> more middling, but I did come away with some positives.

Oh yes! Moonrise Kingdom was the last of them that I read (and also the only one that I read recently), so I must have misremembered.

I had no idea what your reaction to the score would be. I think I like the score as a whole a bit better, but it would still be a weak 3* or maybe lower.

I still think Obituary is one of the best single cues I've heard from Desplat, I can't get enough of it. Too bad the rest of the score can't live up to it

I am a well known Desplatophile, but this is the first score in many years that just disappointed.

All the best

> Hi everyone,

> My latest film music review is of the score for the new Wes Anderson
> comedy THE FRENCH DISPATCH, with music by Alexandre Desplat.

> https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/11/09/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat/

> Enjoy

> Jon

Same. I got irritated by it and switched it off. There is something very off-putting about this score.

Are you going to review the score for Army of Thieves once the album is released? I tried watching the movie but abandoned it 30-40 mins in. It was just dumb. But I thought the score sounded very quirky and fun.

> Are you going to review the score for Army of Thieves once the album is
> released? I tried watching the movie but abandoned it 30-40 mins in. It
> was just dumb. But I thought the score sounded very quirky and fun.

Depends. I haven't seen it or heard it yet. If it catches my ear, then maybe, but I'm not going to review if it's bad and I'm not able to make a wider point with a negative write-up.

> Hi everyone,

> My latest film music review is of the score for the new Wes Anderson
> comedy THE FRENCH DISPATCH, with music by Alexandre Desplat.

> https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/11/09/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat/

> Enjoy

> Jon

Just gave this my first listen and sadly I have to agree with you. The score is rather weak, aside from the opening. I also did not like the movie. The first story was interesting, but the other two were poorly written and plain boring. Sad to see this happening with a Wes Anderson film.

> Hi everyone,

> My latest film music review is of the score for the new Wes Anderson
> comedy THE FRENCH DISPATCH, with music by Alexandre Desplat.

> https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/11/09/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat/

> Enjoy

> Jon

Great review, and I wholly agree about the score. I fear that The Grand Budapest Hotel might just be the peak of the collaboration between Anderson and Desplat. While I liked Isle of Dogs, it was nowhere near as good as Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom or Fantastic Mr. Fox and The French Dispatch is less enjoyable than that.