The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 20, 2025

Note: This version of this film is available on disc both as a standalone release and as part of Criterion's The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years 4K. This review is based on the edition in the Archive box set.

Considering Wes Anderson's penchant for symmetry and Academy Ratio framings, at least at times, about the only problem some diehard Anderson fans may have with Criterion's impressive new set documenting "10 films and 25 years" may be that it's in a rectangular rather than a square box. That oversized box measures nearly 13" wide by 7 1/2" high by 3 1/2" deep and which some "liner notes" from Anderson joke is "upholstered in a sort of burlap canvas". It has a magnetized hinged cover that opens to display ten individual DigiBooks, one for each Anderson film, and each offering two discs, 1080 and 4K UHD, along with a sewn in pamphlet devoted to that film. While all of the films have had previous 1080 releases (not necessarily by Criterion), this set offers the 4K UHD debuts of each film.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun had a 1080 release courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista back in 2021 and my The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun Blu-ray review provides plot information and my reaction to the technical presentation. Kind of hilariously, that review mentions the lack of supplements on that release with my prophesying that a deluxe Criterion edition might be in the offing.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Criterion with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p presentation in what I jokingly referred to in my old 1080 review as "a whole bunch of different aspect ratios". I can't speak as to what is included with the standalone 4K release, but the Archive edition's pamphlet has the following information on the master:

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun is presented in the aspect ratios of 1.37:1, 1.85:1, and 2.40:1. For the new 4K digital master presented on the 4K Ultra HD disc, colorist Gareth Spensley returned to his original color project and scans of the 35 mm camera negative to create a new Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range) presentation that was supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson. The original 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the digital audio files. The feature is presented in Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K UHD disc and high definition SDR (standard dynamic range) on the Blu-ray.

As with the previously reviewed Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray review, this is another stunning looking presentation, probably especially with regard to the unbelievably varied palette. The blues, grays and purples of the French village all pop gorgeously (I just kind of wanted to crawl inside the Boulangerie), and even the ranges of tones within individual colors (blues in particular) are beautifully varied throughout. The yellows in the Bill Murray office scenes are richer and more lush than they are in the excellent looking 1080 version, and the teal of the transom windows offers a gorgeous bit of contrast. The garish oranges of the Tilda Swinton sequences or the equally garish greens in the television studio interview vignettes have more discernable highlights in this version. The black and white sequences fare just as well on their own merits, with solid contrast throughout. Detail levels are typically commendably precise, even given the almost unrelenting onslaught of Anderson's stylistic quirks. The one place where this 4K version may occasionally trouble some folks is at this resolution, the somewhat variant looking grain field(s) probably is/are more noticeable. I have been on record repeatedly as stating I'm not always a fan of grain resolution in 4K HDR, and while there were a few splotchy looking moments (those aforementioned teal transoms are one example), on the whole, while not homogeneous looking, grain resolves organically.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with the old 1080 Disney / Buena Vista disc I reviewed, this edition of The French Dispatch has an enjoyable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 which to my ears is basically interchangeable with the other release. The sound design may not be quite as byzantine as the visual aspect, but is still stuffed full of whimsical sound design elements. There are layers of narration, voice over and dialogue that keep spoken matters front and center, but both interior and exterior scenes often offer nice immersion courtesy of well designed and placed ambient environmental effects that, along with a playful score from Alexandre Desplat, all waft through the side and rear channels invitingly. Optional English subtitles are available.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary is newly recorded in 2025 and features Wes Anderson along with co-writers Roman Coppola and Jason Scwhwartzman.


• Select Scene Storyboard Animatic (HD; 34:15) provides section of the film in nascent form.


• Behind the Scenes of The French Dispatch (HD; 29:27) has a lot of fun candid material and interesting looks at how things were shot.


• No Crying: How to Overcome Blase Ennui (HD; 26:10) is a rather interesting "reading" by Rupert Friend of an essay by David Bordwell. This is a visual essay of sorts as well, with a captivating visual presentation.


• Painting Moses Resonthaler's Pictures A.K.A. Ten Reinforced Cement Aggregate (Load Bearing) Murals (HD; 15:51) is a 2025 interview with artist Sandro Kopp.


• Music Video: Aline by Jarvis Cocker (HD; 3:32) was directed by Wes Anderson.


• The French Dispatch: Miniature Unit Berlin (HD; 5:47) offers some great looks at sets.


• Accidentally Angouleme (HD; 6:43) is a sweet look at the French location.


• The New Yorker Radio Hour (HD; 27:16) is a 2021 episode hosted by editor David Remnick and featuring Wes Anderson and Jeffrey Wright.


• The French Dispatch Reads The New Yorker (And Other Magazines) (HD; 28:26) is another 2021 episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour with some of the principal cast reading works from several iconic magazines.


• Featurettes

La Famille (HD; 1:04) has some brief moments with several cast members.




May '68 (HD; 1:04) looks at the riot sequence.




Table Setter (HD; 3:31) is an overview with some snippets from the film and interstitial comments from the cast and Anderson.




The Theory and Practice of Editing New Yorker Articles (HD; 2:49) is a supposed reading by Bill Murray of a guideline by Wolcott Gibbs.

• Trailer (HD; 2:26)

The Archive edition features a wonderful pamphlet sewn/glued into the DigiBook with an essay Richard Brody with a ton of photos, including two pages of supposed reproductions of The French Dispatch covers. Credits and technical information are also included. It's my understanding that the standalone edition offers a poster.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the closing comments of my original 1080 review I mentioned a very personal reason why this film resonated with me so strongly. I completely get how many reacted to this with either a shrug or a "WTF" (or maybe a combination), but in watching it again for the first time since I wrote that 1080 review, I simply marveled at the film's, yes, unrelenting array of ideas and styles. This Criterion release boasts solid technical merits and very enjoyable supplements. Highly recommended.