The French Dispatch (soundtrack) explained

The music to the 2021 anthology comedy drama film The French Dispatch directed by Wes Anderson features of a score composed by Alexandre Desplat, and selections of French classical and pop hits curated by the music supervisor Randall Poster, who were Anderson's regular collaborators. The score was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, featured contributions from pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, collaborated with Desplat on wide range of instruments and orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The score album, The French Dispatch: Original Score released on May 21, 2021, five months ahead of the film's release, and the soundtrack, The French Dispatch: Original Soundtrack was released along with the film, on October 22, 2021,[1] [2] which preceded with the lead single "Obituary" from Desplat's score, released on September 14.[3] Both albums were distributed by ABKCO Records. Desplat received a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score nomination.

Development

Even before the production began, Anderson sent the film's script to Desplat and Poster to design the sonic palette. Desplat recalled it as:[4] [5]

"When I read the script I always try to find what is behind the virtuality of words, the virtuality of the camera moves, and production design and costumes. There's humor, a lot of humor, there's a great craft, but the stories are very deep. But this depth is always a bit blurred and out of focus. Because maybe he [Anderson] wants to protect his emotions. He doesn't show them too much. But all the subjects he shows in his films are very deep and moving. He shows it through poetry, a lot of poetry, and 'Dispatch' has a lot of that."
Desplat, while writing music, would play his sketches to Anderson where he would give the notes and thereby he would explore and elaborate those ideas, repeating the process back and forth until they found a direction that felt right for the film.[6] Since the film was further set in France, he also had an advantage of being a hometown-based as well as his history related to scoring several French films.[7] [8] Desplat also admitted that "What is beautiful in this film is that it's a real homage to Wes from French culture. We know he's living part-time in Paris. But for true love of French culture: literature, music, cuisine —  he likes French cuisine. The movie shows that too." He further drew inspiration from French composers Erik Satie and Thelonious Monk.

Desplat scored the opening sequence and two of the episodes in the film: "The Concrete Masterpiece" and "The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner". On scoring the film, he explained it as "a handful of people at a newspaper in the past, a little place, like a postcard from the 1960s" which demonstrated that the score should not be lush and huge, but instead sparse and clear. To achieve this, he collaborated with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet whom previously worked on Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) to perform solo piano for the film.[9] They would later collaborate on unusual duets of the score, that had an offbeat collection of instruments such as harpischord, banjo, tuba, timpani, bassoon among varied instruments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Desplat would record his parts with Thibaudet on Los Angeles, while the orchestra performed the score at Abbey Road Studios in London.[10] [11]

As for the songs featured in the film, Poster felt that they were focusing on French music, using Charles Aznavour ballad "J'en déduis que je t'aime" and remake of the French hit "Aline" (1965) performed by Jarvis Cocker (who was cast as Tip-Top), played in the episode "Revisions to a Manifesto". Poster and Anderson admired the original song over the years, and while recording the cover, he described it as a "fun" process. He felt the song was so "distinctive" where in other countries, the presence of this song was rare, while in France, "it was almost like a national anthem" due to Christophe's contribution.

Cocker felt it to "be kind of sincere love letter to French pop music and did not want it to be in any way kind of a pastiche-type thing. And that also meant that I had to work on my French pronunciation and stuff like that. So that to a French person listening to it, they wouldn't listen and think, 'Oh, that's disrespectful' or 'That just doesn't make sense'." Though he had a profound background in France, his spoken French was considered "pretty atrocious". Hence, he undertook vocal coaching from Stereolab frontman Lætitia Sadier to understand the pronunciation of the language; in addition to this, Sadier performed a duet on "Paroles, paroles" and translated Nino Ferrer's English song "Looking for You" into a French version titled "Amour, Je Te Cherche".

Track listing

The French Dispatch: Original Score

The French Dispatch: Original Score
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Alexandre Desplat
Recorded:20202021
Studio:Abbey Road Studios, London
Genre:Film score
Length:30:47
Label:ABKCO
Prev Title:The Midnight Sky (Music from the Netflix Film)
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:The Outfit: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Next Year:2022

The French Dispatch: Original Soundtrack

The French Dispatch: Original Soundtrack
Type:soundtrack
Artist:various artists
Cover:The French Dispatch Soundtrack.jpg
Genre:Film soundtrack
Length:61:05
Label:ABKCO
Chronology:Wes Anderson film soundtracks
Prev Title:Isle of Dogs: Original Soundtrack
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Asteroid City (Original Soundtrack)
Next Year:2023

Reception

Music critic Jonathan Broxton described the score as "an overload of whimsy, a landslide of musical hipsterism that buries you in a pile of twee from which there is no escape".[12] James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "the best way of experiencing the score is to do so in sequence, but the album scatters in an array of songs and orchestral pieces – it's all good stuff, but focusing on the Desplat is rewarding".[13] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic complimented it as a "lean, jaunty chamber music score".[14] A. O. Scott of The New York Times described the score as "playful and knowing".[15] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Desplat's "doodling piano themes help shape the jaunty tone".[16] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post complimented the score as "delicately thoughtful" which benefits the film.[17] Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal described it as "funny".[18]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
British Academy Film AwardsMarch 13, 2022Best Original ScoreAlexandre Desplat[19]
Chicago Film Critics AssociationDecember 15, 2021Best Original Score[20]
[21]
Florida Film Critics CircleDecember 22, 2021Best Score[22]
[23]
Golden Globe AwardsJanuary 9, 2022Best Original Score[24]
Hollywood Critics AssociationFebruary 28, 2022Best Score[25]
[26]
Hollywood Music in Media AwardsNovember 17, 2021Best Original Score in a Feature Film[27]
Houston Film Critics SocietyJanuary 19, 2022Best Original Score[28]
[29]
International Film Music Critics Association AwardsFebruary 17, 2022Best Original Score for a Comedy Film[30]
Online Film Critics SocietyJanuary 24, 2022Best Original Score[31]
[32]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics CircleJanuary 10, 2022Best Original Score[33]
Satellite AwardsApril 2, 2022Best Original Score[34]
Seattle Film Critics SocietyJanuary 17, 2022Best Original Score[35]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics AssociationDecember 6, 2021Best Score[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: September 14, 2021 . The French Dispatch (Original Soundtrack) Featuring Oscar™ Winning Composer Alexandre Desplat To Be Released On October 22 In Conjunction With Theatrical Release . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211005171102/https://www.abkco.com/news-feed/the-french-dispatch-soundtrack-to-be-released/ . October 5, 2021 . October 23, 2021 . ABKCO Records.
  2. Web site: May 21, 2021 . The French Dispatch (Original Soundtrack) by Alexandre Desplat on Apple Music . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211023204350/https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-french-dispatch-original-score/1589127565 . October 23, 2021 . October 23, 2021 . Apple Music.
  3. 1437778183609257988. french_dispatch. The soundtrack to the new Wes Anderson film The French Dispatch, featuring original score by Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat, is now available to pre-order. Listen to the first single "Obituary" by Alexandre Desplat now!. The French Dispatch. September 14, 2021. September 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210914224509/https://twitter.com/french_dispatch/status/1437778183609257988. September 14, 2021.
  4. Web site: Rosen . Christopher . 2021-11-21 . 'The French Dispatch' composer Alexandre Desplat on his longtime collaboration with Wes Anderson . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206100649/https://www.goldderby.com/feature/alexandre-desplat-the-french-dispatch-composers-video-interview-1204580322/ . 2021-12-06 . 2023-07-01 . GoldDerby . en-US.
  5. Web site: Tangcay . Jazz . 2020-06-23 . Alexandre Desplat Previews 'Strange' Score to Wes Anderson's 'The French Dispatch' . https://web.archive.org/web/20200724035503/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/alexandre-desplat-score-wes-anderson-french-dispatch-cannes-interview-1234646811/ . 2020-07-24 . 2023-07-01 . Variety . en-US.
  6. Web site: Olsen . Mark . October 22, 2021 . Defining 'Andersonian': Inside the music of Wes Anderson's 'The French Dispatch' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211023005708/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-22/wes-anderson-french-dispatch-music-jarvis-cocker . October 23, 2021 . October 23, 2021 . Los Angeles Times.
  7. Web site: Ehrlich . David . 2020-05-21 . Alexandre Desplat on Wes Anderson's Amazing 'French Dispatch' and del Toro's Musical 'Pinocchio' . https://web.archive.org/web/20230701150943/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/alexandre-desplat-interview-black-widow-pinocchio-french-dispatch-1202232702/ . 2023-07-01 . 2023-07-01 . IndieWire . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-05-21 . The French Dispatch: Alexandre Desplat on Wes Anderson's Epic Movie . https://web.archive.org/web/20200531040358/https://collider.com/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat-interview-pinocchio/ . 2020-05-31 . 2023-07-01 . Collider . en.
  9. Web site: Burlingame . Jon . October 23, 2021 . 'French Dispatch' Music: Alexandre Desplat and Randall Poster on a Soundtrack Ranging From Classical Piano to Jarvis Cocker . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211023163605/https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/french-dispatch-score-alexandre-desplat-randall-poster-1235094565/ . October 23, 2021 . October 23, 2021 . Variety.
  10. Web site: Hazelton . John . 2022-01-21 . Banjos and bassoons: how 'The French Dispatch' composer Alexandre Desplat collaborates with Wes Anderson . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422053951/https://www.screendaily.com/features/banjos-and-bassoons-how-the-french-dispatch-composer-alexandre-desplat-collaborates-with-wes-anderson/5166477.article . 2022-04-22 . 2023-07-01 . Screen . en.
  11. Web site: Hart . Hugh . 2021-11-16 . How Composer Alexandre Desplat Put a "Dada-istic" Spin on "The French Dispatch" . https://web.archive.org/web/20211122050124/https://www.motionpictures.org/2021/11/how-composer-alexandre-desplat-put-a-dada-istic-spin-on-the-french-dispatch/ . 2021-11-22 . 2023-07-01 . Motion Picture Association . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2021-11-09 . THE FRENCH DISPATCH – Alexandre Desplat . https://web.archive.org/web/20211122144928/https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/11/09/the-french-dispatch-alexandre-desplat/ . 2021-11-22 . 2023-07-01 . MOVIE MUSIC UK . en.
  13. Web site: Southall . James . 2021-11-28 . The French Dispatch . https://web.archive.org/web/20220125235731/http://www.movie-wave.net/the-french-dispatch/ . 2022-01-25 . 2023-07-01 . Movie Wave . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Donelson . Marcy . Review: The French Dispatch [Original Score] ]. https://web.archive.org/web/20221118164944/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-french-dispatch-original-score--mw0003610577 . 2022-11-18 . 2023-07-01 . AllMusic . Rovi Corporation.
  15. News: Scott . A. O. . 2021-10-20 . 'The French Dispatch' Review: Remember Magazines? . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211101232340/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/20/movies/the-french-dispatch-review.html . 2021-11-01 . 0362-4331.
  16. Web site: Rooney . David . 2021-07-12 . Wes Anderson's 'The French Dispatch': Film Review Cannes 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716120840/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-french-dispatch-cannes-2021-1234977451/ . 2021-07-16 . 2023-07-01 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  17. News: Hornaday . Ann . October 19, 2021 . 'The French Dispatch' is pretty and playful but with little genuine curiosity . The Washington Post . July 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211203210307/https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-french-dispatch-movie-review/2021/10/19/244e3b64-302a-11ec-93e2-dba2c2c11851_story.html . December 3, 2021 . 0190-8286.
  18. News: Morgenstern . Joe . 2021-10-21 . 'The French Dispatch' Review: Not Worth a Detour . en-US . Wall Street Journal . 2023-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211103085226/https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-french-dispatch-review-wes-anderson-new-yorker-bill-murray-lea-seydoux-11634851162 . 2021-11-03 . 0099-9660.
  19. Web site: Ritman . Alex . Szalai . Georg . March 13, 2022 . BAFTA Awards: 'Power of the Dog' Wins Best Film, Director, 'Dune' Dominates Crafts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422000929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bafta-awards-2022-winners-list-1235109906/ . April 22, 2022 . April 22, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  20. Web site: Jevens . Darel . December 15, 2021 . Chicago film critics choose The Power of the Dog for top award . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117170434/https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/12/15/22838883/chicago-film-critics-awards-power-dog-2021-benedict-cumberbatch-jane-campion-kristen-stewart . January 17, 2022 . February 3, 2022 . Chicago Sun-Times.
  21. Web site: Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2021 Award Nominations . . December 13, 2021 . December 13, 2021 . December 13, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211213191339/https://chicagofilmcritics.org/blog/2021noms . live.
  22. Web site: Florida Film Critics Circle Announces 2021 Winners . . December 22, 2021 . December 23, 2021 . December 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223032934/http://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2021/12/22/florida-film-critics-circle-announces-2021-winners/ . live.
  23. Web site: December 17, 2021 . 2021 FFCC Nominations . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118230454/http://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2021/12/17/2021-ffcc-nominations/ . January 18, 2022 . December 18, 2021 . Florida Film Critics Circle.
  24. Web site: Golden Globes 2022: See the list of nominees. Lisa . Respers. CNN. December 13, 2021. December 13, 2021. December 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211213161909/https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/13/entertainment/golden-globes-nominations/index.html. live.
  25. Web site: Dune, Coda, and Belfast Lead the 5th Annual HCA Film Awards Nominations . . December 13, 2021 . December 2, 2021 . December 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211203023651/https://hollywoodcriticsassociation.com/dune-coda-and-belfast-lead-the-5th-annual-hca-film-awards-nominations/ . live.
  26. Web site: The 5th Annual HCA Film Awards Ceremony Moves To Monday, February 28, 2022, Due To Rising COVID Concerns . Hollywood Critics Association . January 6, 2022 . December 21, 2021 . December 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223020924/https://hollywoodcriticsassociation.com/the-5th-annual-hca-film-awards-ceremony-moves-to-monday-february-28-2022-due-to-rising-covid-concerns/ . live.
  27. Web site: 2021 Music in Visual Media Nominations . https://web.archive.org/web/20211104170506/https://www.hmmawards.com/2021-music-in-visual-media-nominations/ . November 4, 2021 . November 11, 2021 . Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
  28. News: Vonder Haar . Peter . The Power Of The Dog Is Compelling Enough To Lead The 2021 Houston Film Critics Society Nominations . January 4, 2022 . . January 4, 2022 . January 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220104113216/https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/things-to-do-the-2021-hfcs-awards-nominations-12627407 . live.
  29. News: Vonder Haar . Peter . Houston Film Critics Society Announces Their 15th Annual Award Winners . January 21, 2022 . . January 20, 2022 . January 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220121152447/https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/the-2021-houston-film-critics-society-award-winners-12720617 . live.
  30. Web site: IFMCA Award Nominations 2021 . . February 12, 2022 . February 3, 2022 . February 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220205181435/http://filmmusiccritics.org/2022/02/ifmca-award-nominations-2021/ . live.
  31. Web site: 2021 Awards (25th Annual) . January 19, 2022 . . January 19, 2022 . January 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220119003815/https://ofcs.org/awards/2021-awards-25th-annual/ . live.
  32. Web site: OFCS Presents: 25th Annual Nominations for 2021 . . January 19, 2022 . January 18, 2022 . January 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220119005842/https://ofcs.org/ofcs-presents-25th-annual-nominations-for-2021/ . live.
  33. Web site: SFBAFCC 2021 Awards . . January 7, 2022 . January 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107160104/https://sfbafcc.com/awards/2021-awards/ . live.
  34. Web site: 2021 Nominees . International Press Academy . December 13, 2021 . December 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207044744/https://www.pressacademy.com/2021-nominees/ . live.
  35. Web site: The Power of the Dog Leads the 2021 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations . . January 10, 2022 . January 10, 2022 . January 30, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220130074127/https://seattlefilmcritics.com/2022/01/10/the-power-of-the-dog-leads-the-2021-seattle-film-critics-society-nominations/ . live.
  36. Web site: Belfast Finds Everlasting Love with WAFCA Critics . . December 6, 2021 . December 13, 2021 . December 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206215938/http://www.wafca.com/awards/21release.pdf . live.

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