Our Review

                 Movie: THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

    Rating: PG-13, Smoking Throughout, Nude Images,   Bloody Images, Some Sexual Material, Violent Content`

Length: 1:41

                      Release Date: May 30, 2025  

Jeanne: The magnificent role of industrialist Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda was created specifically for the incomparable Benicio del Toro by writer/director/producer Wes Anderson in his latest effort THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. Inspired by Anderson’s late father-in-law, Fouad Malouf, a Lebanese businessman to whom the film is dedicated, Zsa-zsa Korda may be the director’s most colorful, iconic character of all.

Sporting an A-list cast, many of whom have worked with Anderson before, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME is a first collaboration for a few members, including two of the main characters, Liesl, played by Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet’s daughter) and Bjorn, played by Michael Cera.

Liesl is Zsa-zsa’s 20-year-old estranged daughter --- who also happens to be a nun. Despite having many younger sons, Zsa-zsa has chosen Liesl to be his heir and successor. Bjorn is Zsa-zsa’s tutor from Oslo. He also happens to be a specialist in insects.

Zsa-zsa is currently finalizing his long-term, career-defining project, Korda Land and Sea Phoenician Infrastructure Scheme, and enlists Liesl and Bjorn to help. As they jet around Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia meeting with the various shipping, mining and railroad barons, along with titans of banking, real estate and black- market syndicates, Zsa-zsa is intent on covering “the gap” so he doesn’t lose his entire fortune.

There is little middle-of-the-road when it comes to Anderson and his films. You either love them --- or you don’t. David and I happen to greatly admire his creative genius. Though there may not be as many laugh-out-loud moments in THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME as in other movies of his, the story by Anderson and Roman Coppola is very much quintessential Anderson --- a little crazy, far-fetched and over all very humorous.

As always, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME is beautifully filmed. This is cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel’s first film with Anderson, though they had worked together on commercials previously. His photography is elegant and transformative, especially the overhead sequences with Zsa-zsa soaking in a bathtub, reading and eating, while his staff scurries around him. It’s shot in slow motion --- and it’s extraordinary.

And this is del Toro’s film, period. He’s in almost every scene and he’s electrifying. Del Toro has always been a favorite, consistently adding that special something to all his roles. But with Anderson creating Zsa-zsa just for him --- it’s phenomenal to watch, especially when he looks directly into the camera. Every facial expression tells a story. Zsa-zsa has lived a fruitful, yet perilous life --- enduring multiple assassination attempts.

And del Toro also develops a wonderful on-screen relationship with Threapleton. The two of them create a believable father-daughter bond, which is the crux of THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. Though this is her first starring role, Threapleton fits the mold for one of Anderson’s fantastical characters perfectly.

Filmed primarily at Studio Babelsberg, the world’s oldest large-scale film studio, located in Potsdam, Germany, production designer Adam Stockhausen has created more than a few memorable sets for THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. Even the cast was thoroughly amazed by Stockhausen’s innovation. And to complement these efforts, music supervisor Randall Poster incorporated popular music from the time period of THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME with a grand and inspired soundtrack by composer Alexandre Desplat.

Genius may be frequently overused, but it certainly is an apt description for writer/director Wes Anderson. THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME is another in a long line of provocative, exceptionally entertaining movies from a filmmaking genius.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

David: Like any Wes Anderson film, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME is quirky and crazy, with moments of hilarity, although not nearly as laugh-out-loud funny as his THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. Fans of Anderson will likely flock to see this latest caper, co-written by his frequent collaborator Roman Coppola.

As he is wont to do Anderson fills his movies with a plethora of Hollywood stars, many of whom are repeat cast members. THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME follows in that vein, with actors like Benicio del Toro, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johannson and Jeffrey Wright appearing here in roles of varying lengths.

In this movie, del Toro is the star playing Zsa-zsa Korda, a fabulously wealthy businessman --- more like a conman whom everybody despises --- who has survived multiple attempts on his life. The absurdity in THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME starts early. Zsa-zsa, sitting comfortably and reading in his private plane, actually takes a second to return his reading material to the seat pouch moments after the plane has been attacked. Hilarious!

Del Toro’s co-star here is Mia Threapleton, the daughter of Kate Winslet. She plays Zsa-zsa’s daughter Liesl in complete deadpan style, dressed as the nun she has become. Although estranged from her father for six years, Zsa-zsa wants Liesl to take over his empire in the event of his death. Threapleton is completely stone-faced

throughout the movie, and she comes very close to stealing the film. The other major role goes to Michael Cera as Bjorn, a Norwegian tutor and entomologist. 

The incongruity of Zsa-zsa is demonstrated frequently, as when he always has at his disposal a box of hand grenades which he willingly offers to a variety of people. He also likes to laze in a bathtub, while smoking a cigar, drinking and reading. Del Toro was advised before signing onto this project that he was expected to do a lot of talking. And he does. To that end, he eschewed some of the nightly dinners with cast and crew to work on his lines for the next day’s shoot.

At one point, the screenplay includes a basketball competition amongst the characters played by Hanks, Bryan Cranston and Riz Ahmed, whose character, Prince Farouk, knows nothing about basketball. It’s a hoot.

The music in THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME is courtesy of the great Alexandre Desplat. The composer is also a frequent collaborator with Anderson.

Opinion: See It Now!