Film Review - The Phoenician Scheme

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures.

For some reason, seeing a new Wes Anderson film never fails to have me smiling throughout the entire runtime. The Phoenician Scheme is no exception, with a stacked cast list of acting legends including Tom Hanks, Brian Cranston and Benedict Cumberbatch only playing supporting roles that equate to around 5 minutes of runtime. It shows the level of willingness that everyone has to work with Wes Anderson!

The Phoenician Scheme stars Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, a wealthy businessman/industrialist, prone to assassination attempts by business rivals and foreign governments. Mia Threapleton plays as soeur Liesl, a nun and Korda’s only daughter who he appoints as his sole air over his eight sons. Michael Cera also features in an absolute standout performance as Bjorn Lund, a Norwegian entomologist tutoring Korda on his latest obsession: bugs. Cera does a magnificent job of fitting right into the universe Anderson sets out in this film. It feels like a role that was perfectly crafted for him to do. The rest of the supporting cast, too does a great job of providing entertaining performances in the short amount of time they are given - including Richard Ayode playing a guerrilla leader heavily inspired by Cuban revolutionary leader Che Guevara.  

It can be difficult to describe the plot of  a Wes Anderson film - with a multitude of characters and storylines to follow.  But what is always in Anderson’s work is the atmosphere he brings in the theatre and the complete uniqueness of his style. If you have seen a Wes Anderson film before, then you know exactly what to expect in terms of cinematography and dialogue.  This entry does lack some of the emotional depth from  previous works such as The Grand Budapest Hotel or the more recent Asteroid City, and the constant hopping between locations, as well as the huge roster of side characters does make the pacing feel a little too fast.

Regardless, this is a film that benefits from being seen in theatres. The style and audience reaction always makes for a great time. Whilst certainly not as memorable as his previous works, The Phoenician Scheme still brings Anderson’s classic charm and style in spades. 

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The Phoenician Scheme is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.