Living With B

‘The Phoenician Scheme’ directed by Wes Anderson follows a wealthy businessman, Zsa-Zsa Korda who appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.

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My Thoughts

Fair warning: this is another short review.

Sometimes I think that I should take notes while watching, but I try to live in the moment instead of focusing on what I need to say in these reviews!

I am not well-versed in Wes Anderson’s work, but what I do know is that it’s visually stunning, and makes my brain go brr! This movie is no different. From the color grading to the composition, it’s just gorgeous. Anderson’s eye for photography and image-making is immaculate!

The casting was spot on! I loved the chemistry between Benicio del Toro (Zsa-Zsa Korda, Mia Threapleton (Sister Liesl), and Michael Cera (Bjorn Lund). And let’s not forget Tom Hanks (Leland) and Bryan Cranston (Reagan) — I didn’t know I needed to see them on screen together, but now I want more of it! It’s always refreshing when a film with a big-name cast doesn’t feel like a cash grab — and this one doesn’t!

The writing worked for me! One thing I genuinely enjoy about Anderson’s films is how consistent the writing feels across his movies. It’s familiar, easy for me to follow, and usually good for a laugh! Hanks and Cranston’s dialogue had me laughing out loud more than once, and I appreciated that!

That said, the story can be a bit hard to follow. If you’re not keeping up, it’s easy to get lost — and I say that as someone who tends to check out or get confused pretty quickly. But even when I drifted, I found my way back in without too much trouble!

Do I Recommend ‘The Phoenician Scheme’?

Sure! But I don’t think this movie, or Anderson in general, is for everyone. If you’re in the mood for something visually stunning, this is it! But if you’re craving non-stop action, this isn’t the film for you.

You can watch ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ in theatres now!

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