Rent The Phoenician Scheme on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola (story by), Wes Anderson (screenplay by)
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Wealthy and ruthless businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his estranged daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate after a sixth assassination attempt. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.
Verdict
Like most of Anderson's movies, it's an odd yet visually driven adventure. His films exist in their own world from dialog to story and the overall ambiance. It's style over substance, and while it's certainly artistic, I don't connect with the story. The plot is odd yet quite simple. The way the story is told and shown makes it seem more complex than it is. I suppose that's part of the appeal for those that enjoy it. Despite having watched all of Anderson's movies, I just can't connect with this style and stilted story telling.
Skip it.
Review
I understand the appeal of Wes Anderson's movies. They're unique, visually rich, and distinct. I often find them to be a bit much. I liked The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, but the brief length and subject mattered matched Anderson's style well.
Korda's scheme is to force his investors to cover the cost gap for him as material costs have risen. I don't quite understand why he and the investors don't cover the gap equally, but it could be that Korda was going to pocket any profits above and beyond. He doesn't seem to have a plan, initially trying tricks and deceptions before trying to talk himself back when caught.
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| Michael Cera, Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton play Bjørn, Korda, Liesl |
Anderson's style always focuses on artistic presentation with a rich detail in the sets. Even the dialog has a certain cadence. With a fixation on art direction, the story and dialog are stilted to serve that style. Everything about this movie, and all of Anderson's movies, is strange. It's a world divorced from reality. A government wants to stop Korda and his unethical prices through the price of rivets. Rising supply prices will tank his project in Phoenicia.
Business tycoon Korda (Benicio Del Toro) bypasses his sons to appoint his only daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a nun, as his heir. While she doesn't like him, she is interested in his wealth. Korda, with Liesl in tow, must confront his investors about the rising costs as he tries to swindle them. This sets off a string of cameos as Korda must save his future and fortune.
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| Benicio Del Toro plays Korda |
Korda put his entire fortune into this endeavor, and this project could bankrupt him. It's a madcap adventure as Korda and Liesl encounter all types of odd characters. During the trip Korda carries around and offers hand grenades to people. The cast is huge with all kinds of cameos. Kardo beseeches each investor to help cover the gap. That involves wagers and deceitfulness.
While Kardo's scheme initially was to trick investors, the ultimate result is Korda's near death experiences fundamentally alter him as he changes his ruthless ways and becomes generous. This is quite the artistic vision; creative and unique, but it is an odd story like all of Andersons's movies.
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