The Phoenician Scheme (2025)

It feels like Wes Anderson's output has increased dramatically over the last decade, although perhaps that's just because the last one I saw at the cinema was The French Dispatch (2021) and he's released two since then which I haven't seen.

That doesn't really make a lot of sense; but then again that's appropriate, as neither does Anderson's latest make much either. Of course that's something that has never mattered in films; often whether it makes sense or not is only dependent on the quality of the film.

The Phoenician Scheme stars Benicio Del Toro stars as wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda, who appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate after surviving multiple assassination attempts-with more to come as the film progresses.

It's absolute nonsense from start to finish, and The Phoenician Scheme is far from Anderson's finest work. It can be funny at times; Del Toro especially is on magnificent form relishing the role of Korda with deadpan reaction to increasingly bizarre attempts to kill him. He's almost outdone however, by Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet's daughter no less) who is fantastic as his (probably) daughter.

Michael Cera also deserves a huge amount of credit for a highly amusing turn as Korda's Norwegian family tutor Bjorn Lund, and there is the usual incredible amount of high-profile cameos including Tom Hanks who turns up for a swift game of basketball.

The Phoenician Scheme holds your attention for a scene then immediately loses it; only to gain it back again with interest for a section before meandering again. It's messy yet amusing- and feels a lot longer at times than its reasonably short run time. There are ideas in it that fuse beautifully with Anderson's distinct tone, but plenty that simply test your patience, and in the end you're left with something that's fairly middling in terms of Anderson's pantheon.

Of course the whole thing is aesthetically beautiful and looks gorgeous, designed to within an inch of its life- but because we're so used to that from Anderson, when the film's not entirely up to snuff it's not enough. The Phoenician Scheme lies somewhere alongside The French Dispatch (2021), and a long way off his best work in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) or Rushmore (1998). Hell, I really like The Life Aquatic (2004) but I seem to be the only one that does.

If you love everything Anderson does you'll find plenty to like here; much the same verdict was offered to his last film, 2023's Asteroid City, with plenty accusing/praising it of being 'Wes Anderson's most Wes Anderson's film'.

Your own feelings about that statement might very well decide how you feel about The Phoenician Scheme, and in the end it's another one of those films that feels pointless reviewing. But I've done so anyway. 6.7/10