Wes Anderson is one of my favourite directors, but it is fair to see that he has lately been sort of off and while I have enjoyed, significantly, his recent output of work nothing has ever come close to recapturing the magic of his magnum opus that is The Grand Budapest Hotel. However, with his newest feature, The Phoenician Scheme and a new cast with some very familiar faces of course, he may have scratched that surface yet again if just missing it by the smallest of measurements. The Phoenician Scheme is classic Wes Anderson in all of the best ways with a wonderful pairing that is absolutely shocking it took both of their careers to finally get here.
The movie focuses on Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro) who is a wealthy tycoon who is consistently having his life threatened by numerous schemes and attacks, some of which include his plane blowing up and crashing yet somehow miraculously surviving. As Korda realizes that he doesn’t have an heir to his estate he trusts he appoints his daughter – Leisl (Mia Threapleton) who is a nun and has reservations about her father, his business dealings, and the task he is asking of her. Reluctant she inevitably agrees to try and see if she can be his heir, but not without being joined by Bjorn (Michael Cera) who Korda enlists as his second in command essentially to ensure everything goes according to plan. While Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they’re targeted by his enemies, associates, and even sometimes family including Leland (Tom Hanks), Reagan (Bryan Cranston), Sergio (Richard Ayoade), Marty (Jeffrey Wright), and Cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson) while he’s also accompanied all by Prince Farouk (Riz Ahmed). Truly this nefarious scheming tycoon cannot continue to get away with his life intact, but of course things certainly take a turn and the adventures are truly as whimsical, mysterious, and as mischievous as audiences are surely expecting.
While the story is co-written between Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola the script itself is solely credited to Anderson and has all the signature trademarks one can find in his films. For audiences who thought he fell off the wagon post Grand Budapest Hotel will be pleasantly surprised with how original and magnificent The Phoenician Scheme is – truly proving that the ingenious master never left and that his artistic style that has been a constant in everything he touches is here to stay and create a world for the audience to fall back in love with and ensure that his legacy will forever live on.
When it comes to the cast, everyone involved is truly fantastic full stop – with Wes regulars returning (who are not mentioned in the cast list previously due to slight spoiler territory) it is the new comers to the cast that truly steal the show for The Phoenician Scheme. With everyone bringing their A-Game it comes to Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton to make ever lasting impressions to carry Phoenician Scheme to new heights and make it one of the better Wes Anderson entries. They’re both incredible in their roles, and Michael Cera is perfectly cast in this role – something it seems he was born to play. Threapleton is also flawless in her role bringing together everything as the glue that holds this chaotic (but brilliant) adventure together – so if you’re a fan of Wes’ artistry and vision that he continuously delivers but wanted something more in tune with Grand Budapest Hotel than Asteroid City or French Dispatch than The Phoenician Scheme is exactly what the doctor ordered to cure your ailment.
