Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme Falls Short of His Classic Masterpieces

by

Few contemporary filmmakers boast a style as identifiable as that of the director, whose unique visual approach, high-profile casts featuring frequent collaborators, and sometimes fantastical, even dreamlike narratives are his trademarks. Anderson is not only renowned for his distinctive work, but also for his productivity, having produced 13 feature films since his debut with the 1996 crime comedy “Bottle Rocket,” up to his latest release, “The Phoenician Scheme.

In a humorous twist, The Phoenician Scheme bears striking resemblance to Wes Anderson’s work, yet it doesn’t quite reach the heights of his past classics. Despite this, it’s an engaging watch, boasting some exceptional acting – and unusually for an Anderson film, the fresh talent in his regular ensemble steals the show.

The Phoenician Scheme Is Visually Stunning

Like All of Anderson’s Films, Many Shots Are Composed Like Paintings

In the film “The Phoenician Scheme“, Anderson’s artistry in framing and composition is exceptional, much like in many of his previous works. Some scenes are so visually appealing that they seem fit to be displayed in an art gallery. The cinematographer, Bruno Delbonnel, adds a unique touch with his color palette, infusing warm hues that accentuate the dreamlike aspects of the narrative. Fans of Anderson’s style who have watched his past work will find no fault with the visual aesthetic of “The Phoenician Scheme“.

In much the same way, Anderson’s focus on detail in costume and makeup greatly enhances each character. Notable performances include Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, a novice nun and Zsa-Zsa Korda’s estranged daughter (played by Benecio del Toro), and Michael Cera as Bjørn Lund, a tutor hired for Korda’s nine overlooked sons. Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston also deliver a laugh-out-loud performance in their initial scene, portraying two of Korda’s colleagues who engage in an unexpected game of H-O-R-S-E with him.

Anderson’s Latest Echoes a Few of His Greatest Films

Unfortunately, It Doesn’t Quite Live Up to Them

Besides his distinctive artistic approach, Anderson often explores similar motifs in his creations. These recurring ideas can be found in The Phoenician Scheme, such as troubled family dynamics, sorrow, and the inevitability of death. The Royal Tenenbaums is widely considered the most notable demonstration of these themes, and it was also the film that first earned him an Academy Award nomination.

In the latest film, you can notice similarities between certain character traits in the Tenenbaum family and Korda’s team, particularly with Liesl who resembles Margot Tenenbaum played by Gwyneth Paltrow. She shares a flat delivery and minimal inflection, much like Margot. Both characters also have unique makeup styles, emphasizing their eyes, and distinctive hairstyles, such as the bob (although Liesl’s is mostly covered by her nun’s habit throughout The Phoenician Scheme). Moreover, both narratives feature an emotionally detached father figure, shared between Korda and another character.

In the 1950s, Wes Anderson continued a pattern established by him in his recent works. He often sets parts of his films in time periods not contemporary to our own, such as Moonrise Kingdom (set in the 1960s), The Grand Budapest Hotel (mostly set in 1932), and Asteroid City (a retro-futuristic portrayal of the 1950s). Although The Phoenician Scheme shares many elements with Anderson’s previous projects, it does not quite evoke the same emotional depth.

A Stellar Cast Doesn’t Make Up for Under-baked Characters

The Phoenician Scheme’s Ensemble Cast Is Fantastic, But It’s a Struggle to Emotionally Connect With Them

As a passionate cinephile, I can confidently say that every performance in “The Phoenician Scheme” hits the bullseye. Guillermo Del Toro does an exceptional job, skillfully revealing Korda’s distant, detached demeanor gradually crumbling under the burgeoning relationship with Liesl. Jason Schwartzman, playing Lund, truly shines and it comes as no surprise to learn that Benedict Cumberbatch was thrilled watching Schwartzman (newcomer to Anderson’s world) collaborate with Del Toro for the first time; they were destined for each other, indeed. Schwartzman’s role is a delightful one, allowing him to essentially play two distinct characters due to a plot twist halfway through. Benedict Cumberbatch is hysterical as Uncle Nubar, Korda’s estranged half-brother who bears a peculiar resemblance to both Cumberbatch’s Marvel character Doctor Strange and Jim Carrey’s Count Olaf from “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” It’s unfortunate that Nubar appears only towards the end of the film; the confrontation between Nubar and Korda might just be the movie’s finest (and funniest) moment.

Amidst all the performances, Threapleton truly steals the spotlight. You might recognize her as Kate Winslet’s daughter, but she made her acting debut more than a decade ago with a minor role in her mother’s film “A Little Chaos”. However, “The Phoenician Scheme” represents Threapleton’s first leading role. She delivers an exceptional performance, leaving us eager to see what other collaborations between her and Anderson may unfold in the future. It’s refreshing to witness a newcomer like Threapleton emerge as the standout talent in “The Phoenician Scheme”, rather than one of Anderson’s regular favorites.

Although Anderson’s cast delivered an outstanding performance, the narrative seems to be missing that essential emotional core. For instance, Korda’s intentions are declared but remain somewhat unclear. The rationale behind his communication with Liesl and involving her in his plan is questionable at best. Furthermore, it’s challenging to connect emotionally with a character who has mistreated as many children as Korda did, despite his later change of heart regarding one of them.

It’s possible that the Anderson ensemble is experiencing overcrowding for the first time. The sequences featuring Korda in limbo, facing judgement during his numerous close calls with death, are somewhat predictable at first. However, they become incredibly distracting when a larger-than-life Bill Murray emerges as God, accompanied by Willem Dafoe and F. Murray Abraham who make relatively insignificant appearances as a Trickster and a Prophet respectively. (While these scenes are visually stunning, resembling Delbonnel’s previous work on Joel Coen’s 2021 film The Tragedy of Macbeth, they seem unnecessary from a storytelling perspective).

Beyond some minor flaws, the movie titled “The Phoenician Scheme” remains an entertaining watch, demonstrating that Anderson’s technical prowess hasn’t faltered in close to 30 years since his first film. Although “The Phoenician Scheme” may not be Anderson’s best work, it’s definitely worth checking out for its visual charm, Threapleton’s compelling performance, and notably, Uncle Nubar’s outrageous beard.

The Phoenician Scheme is in select theaters now and will have a wide release on June 6, 2025.

Read More

2025-06-04 05:13