All the screenshots in this post were taken directly from the movie by me.
Although Wes Anderson is far from my favorite filmmaker, I've always been fascinated by his work, especially when he manages to blend his own style with more typical forms of storytelling (as in Fantastic Mr. Fox or, to a lesser extent, the excellent The Grand Budapest Hotel).
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Whether we love him or not, the fact that he has such a distinctive aesthetic is more than enough reason to respect it, and this is one of the reasons why I appreciate The Phoenician Scheme even though it didn't fully capture me on a narrative level.
Beyond the fact that it has an interesting premise that isn't fully utilized, every moment within its agile 100 minutes of footage is fully utilized, becoming a parade of brilliant actors and unique settings that never tires from beginning to end.
On this occasion, we must give honorable mention to Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton, two excellent additions to Anderson's cast who, considering his tendency to marry actors, we'll likely see more of under the same direction.
Interestingly, in structural terms, Phoenician Scheme is particularly simple, especially when compared to other films like Asteroid City and its distinctive breaking of the fourth wall with the idea of having a play within a play... within a play.
This time, however, we follow Zsa-Zsa Korda, an eccentric businessman played by Benicio Del Toro who appears willing to right the wrongs of his past, even if his methods are extremely cumbersome.
Thus, we find ourselves before a film that blends comedy with drama, including elements of espionage, and toying with surrealism and religion in a genuinely unexpected way.
The Phoenician Scheme, in my humble opinion, doesn't reach the level of excellence of his best work, but it's another entry in an excellent filmography, with impeccable direction and cinematography that captivates us regardless of the organized chaos unfolding on screen.
It's uncompromising, yes, but I doubt it ever intended to be anything more than that.
Personally, I think if you're unfamiliar with his work, there are better options for diving into Wes Anderson's films, especially when it comes to the short films he made alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in 2023.
This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.
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