Film review: The Phoenician Scheme

This isn't Wes Andersons best, but it still has his charm

Wes Anderson was the first director I believe that I noticed had a distinct style. I used to think Martin Scorsese was just a mob movie guy but he’s more than that. I could start to notice things about Wes Anderson films. The color, the dialogue, and just how characters went through the world. But there was always heart in Wes Andersons stories. Family rifts, people who are destined soulmates, and finding humanity in your fellow people. That’s what always drew me to his films.

Besides his short films like Hotel Chevalier, the Oscar winning The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, and etc., I have seen all his full length features. I need to give Grand Budapest Hotel and Asteroid City a second viewing but for now my favorites are between Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. Those two have these stories that have stuck with me. The ending of Rushmore still makes me teary eyed. Wes Andersons movies always felt like an event and each one felt special. He always got a great cast of regulars and new people added to the rolodex. Bill Murray seems like a go to guy for him for parts big and small. Which shows that Wes must be a fun guy to work for at least. Possibly it brings other accolades, but I’m choosing to believe that he is a great guy to work for. Big names who don’t seem to have the need for an easy paycheck keep working with him. He always seems to bring out great performances out of people as well. Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Olivia Williams in Rushmore, Ralph Fiennes in Grand Budapest Hotel, Gene Hackman and Anjelica Huston, and the other leads in Royal Tenenbaums, The three leads in Darjeeling Limited, pretty much keeping Adrien Brody in the conversation as someone who is a great actor, and many more.

The same can’t be said completely about this new Wes Anderson adventure though. Is it awful? No. Is it great? No. I was kind about it when I watched it the first time. Then I watched it again the very next day and did some reading on it and realized this is just a fine nothing special movie. Which to me is disappointing when it comes to Wes Anderson. His flair seems to be dimming lately. Asteroid City didn’t blow me away, seems like he was trying too many things. But there were people out there who really liked it. I seemed to be in the minority with liking The French Dispatch. But I liked all the separate stories. I thought they were well told. Having said that though, I wouldn’t choose The French Dispatch over one of his older films. But this happens, artists try new things. Challenge themselves and see what sticks. Like all art it won’t be liked by everyone. People should know that going into art in general, but that’s a separate article.

The Phoenician Scheme is still a Wes Anderson film. It still has all the quirks that can accompany his films. The color still helps with the story, like in Zsa Zsa Kordas mansion with it’s slightly darker or gray color to accompany the lead characters rather distant or stern characteristics and the brightness of the colors when the three leads crash in the jungle.

Before I go further I should explain. The film is about Tycoon and “One of the richest in Europe” Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro). After another failed assassination from one of his many enemies he realizes that he can’t have this luck forever. So he reaches out to his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) to tell her that he wants her as sole heir to his estate at the time of his death which might come sooner rather than later (Zsa-Zsa actually says that). This upsets the other 9 sons he has but Zsa-Zsa feels they are not cut out for the responsibility. Liesl is hesitant because she is training to be a nun and is wary because of rumors that Zsa-Zsa has killed his wives including Liesls mother. Their meeting then leads to a major plot point, his idea for The Phoenician Scheme, a project 30 years in the making.

This leads to an adventure with a father and daughter finally getting a chance to know each other with the usual cast of big names in eccentric roles. The other lead is Michael Cera who plays Bjorn, an expert in insects who then gets turned into Zsa-Zsas assistant on their journey.

I wish I liked this movie more. I’ve been breaking my rule of not watching a trailer by watching this ones multiple times. A big problem is that Wes Andersons movies have been able to impress me after one viewing. They were able to grip me and entertain me that quickly. I’d catch things after multiple viewings but still have that love for them. This one and Asteroid City didn’t do that. Even after a second viewing of this one I couldn’t lie and just say nice things. I want to stop doing that in general with things, especially art, and give my honest opinion. Don’t just say things to please others. I say this as a people pleaser.

This whole movie is about this father and daughter finally getting to know each other and how they slowly start to reveal themselves. Especially, Zsa-Zsa Korda. We see how he become this cold businessman who doesn’t show empathy for a lot of things or people.

But before we dive into that interesting aspect of the story let me talk about a few other things. Throughout this movie we meet all the other rich business partners and a prince to finalize investments into said Phoenician Scheme. All the actors in this are great but a lot of the scenes left me wanting more. It’s great to see Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston added to the Wes universe. Their scene with the basketball game was funny but I wanted more from their characters. Same goes for Riz Ahmed as Prince Farouk. He’s a phenomenal actor. I personally think he should’ve won best actor for Sound of Metal. It was cool to see him do some Wes Anderson style comedy.

Before I say this for every section I’ll just say a lot of the scenes are well acted but left me thinking “who are they to each other?” and “I wish there was more to this interaction?”. The French Dispatch had this vignettes, but I felt that was the point. A little scene of each employee at the paper. This just felt like he needs money and let’s go on to the next person. I just personally don’t like that. Some people can make that work. This movie doesn’t fully accomplish it. Like, the scene where the three leads meet with the nightclub owner Marseille Bob (Mathieu Amalric). Marseille learns he is getting screwed by Zsa-Zsa and they have to me a very “Wes Anderson type of argument”. Then Richard Ayoade comes as a communist freedom fighter Sergio and robs the nightclub. It was cool to see him casted in this. I think he is really funny.

Scarlett Johansson is good in this. The accent for her character seems a little off, but she seems to fit very well in the Wes universe. She was great in Asteroid City. Their scene went by too quickly for me to care completely. Just felt like a quick way to help with the story. Other movies have done this before. But for some reason in this one it didn’t work for me.

I’m complaining about how short interactions with characters are. But the scene with Marty (Jeffrey Wright) was funny. Marty telling everyone where to sit had me laughing hard. Jeffrey Wright is an actor I want to pay more attention to. Seeing him in his Oscar nominated performance in American Fiction (2023) showed he was one of our best actors.

I won’t ruin the twist with Michael Ceras character but the hype of him in this movie is well deserved. He was made to be in these movies and fits like a glove in this world. His scenes with Zsa-Zsa and Liesl are great to watch. This character being dragged into this world and the father/daughter relationship that is growing in front of his eyes. I hope he is part of the rolodex for future projects.

But this movie solely revolves around the relationship of Zsa-Zsa and Liesl. Benicio Del Toro and Mia Threapleton are great as these two. I wish they were in a slightly better movie though. There’s funny scenes but it’s not completely funny all the way through. There’s times where it seems like their being funny but it doesn’t always land. The rich guy can be a fun character to see. I like that Liesl can call him out on his greed. It’s not to be funny it’s more of she was brought up in a religious world even from a young age. Her devoting her life to god and seeing what her supposed father has devoted his life led to some interesting clashes. I just wanted a better movie.

Other film buffs dug it more than me. People I respect in the movie world. Which I respect. Maybe they saw something that I didn’t. But the Wes Anderson interview at the end of the video had me worried because it came off like he couldn’t really describe the movie as well.

Benedict Cumberbatch is another actor who seems to fit into this directors pictures. He plays Zsa-Zsas half brother Uncle Nubar. The trailer made this dynamic look interesting. But the scene was a bit of a let down. He was good at playing this serious funny looking man (maybe not a great description) but the scene didn’t seem to have any conflict. I would’ve liked to see some of that. I’m not looking for a “how dare you betray me!” or “We could’ve been friends!”. Neither of those wouldn’t work and would be annoying. But I wanted to see them clear the air in some way and I never saw that. Their fight though comedic didn’t do much for me. It felt just random. But I would like to see these two do another movie together. I’m just disappointed because that scene could’ve been great knowing their relationship.

The heaven scenes were an interesting addition. I can see it’s Wes Anderson showing off his influences. It was cool to see people get some screen time like Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Bill Muray playing God (that’s my one spoiler I’ll allow). Seeing Charlotte Gainsbourg play one of Zsa-Zsas wives was cool. It reminded how much I liked seeing her in Melancholia (2011). I want to know Wes Andersons secret to getting all this talent.

The heaven scenes were interesting addition to the story. They didn’t do much for me. Maybe a flex for Wes to show his film making skills. Adding some depth to the lead character and show how he needs to change. But by the ending I was having a “meh” feeling about it. Maybe Wes just wanted to add more actors to his story. It probably worked for other people, but didn’t seem necessary to me.

This film though not perfect and not one of his best in my opinion still has his charm. The man knows how to shoot film and the color of certain scenes impressed me. The three leads and a lot of the supporting cast I hope stays in the filmmakers rolodex. This film just didn’t impress me as much even though it still had his signature charm and quirks. Just not enough to completely win me over.

I’ll give this 3/5 stars

What did you think of it?

Another great review of this film is AWH films review. They are a great page on here. Here’s their review:

The Phoenician Scheme: Where Did the Magic Go?

Have a great day!