---
title: "The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun"
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 33
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021): what the critics said

Critics' score 70 from 33 reviews: 21 positive, 8 mixed, 4 negative.

Most critics like it, and several call it among Wes Anderson’s best or most accomplished films. The praise settles on the same things: the density of detail in Adam Stockhausen’s production design, the precision of the compositions, and the way the film moves between magazine page and screen. Jeffrey Wright’s segment is singled out more than any other, and even critics cool on the rest find his performance affecting.

The reservations are about structure and feeling. Many find the anthology episodic and scattershot, and a recurring complaint is that the surface pleasures bury the characters and leave the film emotionally remote. The spread is wide: The New Yorker calls it perhaps Anderson’s best, Polygon his least successful. The Los Angeles Times finds it overstuffed and distant, and The Guardian often exasperating. Even the admirers concede the distance; they simply forgive it.

## The New Yorker — Richard Brody

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 25 October 2021. 

Brody calls it perhaps Anderson’s best film and certainly his most accomplished, praising its exuberant, complex cinematic energy. He especially admires how its elaborate artifice gives style and substance to stories of resistance, heroism, and journalism.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-french-dispatch-reviewed-wes-andersons-most-freewheeling-film)

## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd

Rating A-. 21 October 2021. 

Dowd finds the film a dizzying, poignant, affectionate tribute to journalism and the art of reporting. He especially praises its precise visual compositions and intricate, playful details.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/with-the-french-dispatch-wes-anderson-pens-a-dizzying-1847910399)

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Rating Critics Pick. 12 July 2021. Festival review. 

Debruge praises the film as a lively, original tribute to literary journalism and finds it less safe than Anderson’s earlier work. He especially admires its intricate craftsmanship and ensemble, which make its carefully controlled world feel human.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson-1235012718/)

## IndieWire — Eric Kohn

Rating B+. 12 July 2021. Festival review. 

Kohn finds the film an endearing, engrossing salute to storytelling, though its scattershot vignettes do not always cohere. He particularly praises Jeffrey Wright’s segment and its lyrical, haunting imagery.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson-1234650346/)

## Empire — Ian Freer

Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 2021. 

Freer finds the film a joyful, intricately crafted delight, though its episodic structure leaves it less fulfilling than some of Anderson’s narrative films. He especially praises its dense detail, comedic invention and exquisitely controlled filmmaking.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-french-dispatch/)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Rating 4/5. 22 October 2021. 

O'Sullivan finds the film below Anderson’s best but still a winner compared with most films. She praises its zesty dialogue and tender portrait of crumpled writers.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson-timothee-chalamet-movie-b959514.html)

## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong

Rating 4/4/5. 18 October 2021. 

Strong praises the film as a bold, beautifully rendered celebration of storytelling, though its intricate style may not win over Anderson’s detractors. She singles out the final reporter’s story as especially moving.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-french-dispatch)

## The i Paper — Kaleem Aftab

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2021. Festival review. 

A strongly positive review calls it Anderson’s most technically innovative and beautiful film yet, while noting its sensory overload. It especially praises the visual design and the way the film blurs the boundaries between magazine pages and screen.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-french-dispatch-cannes-film-festival-review-bill-murray-timothee-chalamet-wes-anderson-1099996)

## Total Film — James Mottram

Rating 4/5. 13 July 2021. Festival review. 

Mottram finds the film dazzling and says Wes Anderson fans will delight in its imaginative, anthology-style storytelling. He praises its exquisite visual detail, accomplished craft, and large cast, while noting it may feel slight to detractors.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson-cannes/)

## Slant Magazine — Pat Brown

Rating 3/4. 12 July 2021. 

The critic finds the film fascinating and visually inventive, but says its busy style weakens its emotional impact. They praise Anderson’s intricate narration and composition, while noting that cameos and stylistic flourishes bury the wistful ending.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2021. Festival review. 

Rooney finds the film a beguiling, if episodic, curio that may strike some viewers as self-parody. He especially praises Adam Stockhausen’s ingenious production design and the film’s handcrafted visual detail.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-french-dispatch-cannes-2021-1234977451/)

## Vulture — Alison Willmore

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2021. 

Willmore finds the film an almost unbearably on-brand but ultimately comforting and affecting work, despite one feature she finds intolerable. She singles out Jeffrey Wright’s performance and the heartache and compassion of his segment for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/wes-anderson-french-dispatch-review.html)

## Sight and Sound — BFI

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2021. Festival review. 

The critic finds the film an inventive, joyful but overstuffed distillation of Anderson’s style, with limited emotional and political depth. They praise the meticulous visual craft and lively Desplat score, while noting that the abundance of surface pleasures can overwhelm its characters.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/french-dispatch-wes-anderson-love-letter-journalism)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2021. Festival review. 

The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is behind a paywall, so its verdict cannot be determined. The available text does not reveal what the critic singled out for praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-french-dispatch-cannes-review/5161518.article)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2021. 

The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint is available from the page.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/20/movies/the-french-dispatch-review.html)

## Film Comment — Steven Mears

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 

Mears finds the anthology overly finicky but ultimately capable of genuine grace. The standfirst singles out those moments of grace amid its polished, star-packed approach.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/polished-drafts-wes-anderson-the-french-dispatch-review/)

## Time Out — Eurico de Barros

Rating 3/5. 10 November 2021. 

Time Out rates the film 3/5, indicating a moderately favorable verdict. The available page text gives its premise but does not reveal a specific point of praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/pt/filmes/cronicas-de-franca-2021)

## The Guardian — Wendy Ide

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2021. 

Ide finds the anthology uneven and often exasperating, though she sees more to admire in its other sections. She praises the final food-review-turned-heist story as the most satisfying segment, especially Jeffrey Wright’s charming narration and performance.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/23/the-french-dispatch-review-exasperating-wes-anderson-portmanteau-picture)

## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. 

Walsh finds the film an overstuffed, emotionally distant disappointment, with Anderson’s signature style working against it. She praises its intentions as a love letter to print journalism but says its visual fuss obscures any message or emotional connection.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-21/review-french-dispatch-wes-anderson-timothee-chalamet-bill-murray)

## Collider — Rafael Motamayor

Rating A-. 13 July 2021. 

Motamayor finds the film a near-perfect, exuberant encapsulation of Wes Anderson’s style, though it can feel emotionally distant and overwhelming. He especially praises the inventive visuals, Jeffrey Wright’s performance, and the care evident in every frame.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson/)

## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui

Rating 9/10. 18 October 2021. 

Bui finds the film breathlessly stylish, visually overwhelming, and ultimately delightful. She praises its hidden emotional warmth beneath the intricate, overstuffed images and stories.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/635548/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-andersons-stylish-love-letter-never-buries-the-lead/)

## Consequence — Jesse Hassenger

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2021. Festival review. 

Hassenger argues that this funny, strange film is not a minor entry in Wes Anderson’s work. He praises its bold formal play and elaborate visual invention, while noting that some roles are brief and one animated passage is uninspired.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/10/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson/)

## NME

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic calls it top-tier Wes Anderson and his funniest film in years. They praise the strong ensemble, whose fresh performances balance the film’s familiar, highly stylized touches.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson-3076108)

## The Ringer — Israel Daramola

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. 

Daramola finds the film a lively, inventive expression of Anderson at his maximalist best, warmly praising its collaborative ensemble. He singles out the cast’s comic energy and the film’s sincere affection for journalism and storytelling.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2021/10/21/movies/french-dispatch-wes-anderson-review)

## The Skinny — Patrick Gamble

Rating ★★★★. 13 October 2021. 

Gamble finds the anthology a rich and absorbing delight, especially for viewers drawn to Anderson’s style and continental culture. He praises its recreation of the pleasure of losing yourself in a long read.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-french-dispatch)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2021. Festival review. 

The headline presents the film as a dazzling success. The accessible page provides no further detail about the critic’s verdict or what they praise.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-french-dispatch-wes-anderson-dazzles-cannes-review-20210712/)

## Paste — Brianna Zigler

Rating 8.5. 2 October 2021. 

Zigler sees the film as a creative, visually inventive evolution, though its storytelling gimmicks leave character depth lacking. She praises Anderson’s striking formal experiments and distinctive artistry, while noting the weaker emotional pulse.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/wes-anderson/the-french-dispatch-review)

## Den of Geek — David Crow

Rating 3.5/5. 1 October 2021. 

Crow finds the film worthwhile but uneven, with its visual richness sometimes outshining weaker stories. He praises the sumptuous compositions and intricate visual details, while noting that some vignettes feel cluttered or underdeveloped.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson/)

## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. 

The critic finds the film an intricate, playful extension of Anderson’s style, though its self-conscious form may not win over anyone who is not already a fan. They praise its carefully constructed sets, visual details and recurring elements for producing moments of surprise and delight.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-french-dispatch-2021-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. Festival review. 

The critic finds the film entertaining and hugely impressive, but exhausting and scattershot. They praise its meticulous, jewel-box visual style while questioning whether its episodes add up to a larger whole.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-french-dispatch-cannes-review-wes-anderson-owen-wilson-bill-murray/)

## Deadline — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2021. Festival review. 

McCarthy finds the film an entrancing, visually distinctive exercise in Anderson’s eccentric style, but ultimately an unsatisfying meal. He praises its meticulous visual and rhythmic stylization while faulting its incoherent narrative and thin emotional life.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/07/review-the-french-dispatch-wes-anderson-cannes-film-festival-1234790664/)

## HeyUGuys — Jo-Ann Titmarsh

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. 

The critic finds the film visually inventive but ultimately flimsy and lacking substance. The intricate sets and tiny visual details are singled out as its principal pleasure.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-french-dispatch-review/)

## Polygon — Robert Daniels

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2021. 

The critic finds it Anderson’s least successful film, visually impressive but narratively remote and mainly appealing to devoted fans. Jeffrey Wright’s vulnerable performance and the sincere memorial to Howitzer are singled out as the film’s most affecting moments.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22740988/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun.md