Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, now streaming on Netflix, continues to frustrate fans who believe the film was unjustly overlooked by the Academy Awards. Despite boasting six Academy Award-winning actors and a 75% 'certified fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2021 film received zero Oscar nominations.
Plot and Cast
Set in 1975, the film follows the sudden death of an editor at a prestigious magazine in a fictional French city. His final wish is to shut down the publication after one farewell issue, which highlights unique stories from his reporters' careers. The A-list cast includes Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lea Seydoux, and Owen Wilson.
Fan Reactions
Viewers have expressed their admiration and frustration online. One fan on Rotten Tomatoes described it as 'a masterpiece equipped with poetic storytelling and mesmerizing visuals.' Another called it 'wildly entertaining, non-stop dialogue and artfully curated scenes.' A third said, 'Charming! Quirky! Avant-Garde! Another Brilliant Success for Wes Anderson & Cast.'
One fan posted: 'To this day I'm still mad The French Dispatch wasn't nominated or at least put them on production design nominee.' Another agreed: 'This not getting nominated for anything in the last Oscars was total BS, this was phenomenal. The set design in particular was outstanding.'
Oscar Snub
Anderson, whose films are routinely nominated for Oscars, was completely shut out of the 2022 ceremony. The snub surprised many, given the film's strong cast and artistic direction. The French Dispatch is now available to stream on Netflix.
