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The Phoenician Scheme Sends Off some Wes Anderson Fans | Review by Simon Morris in Screens
- Wes Anderson released his 110-minute film The Phoenician Scheme on June 5, 2025, set in 1950 Greater Independent Phoenicia with Benicio del Toro starring as Anatole Korda.
- The film follows Korda, a corrupt millionaire facing opposition from governments, family, and Marxist rebels while pursuing a massive legacy infrastructure project.
- After surviving a plane crash, Korda reunites with his daughter Liesl, who was raised in a convent, and together with Bjorn, a Swedish tutor played by Michael Cera, they embark on a trip to secure funding for his ambitious project.
- Michael Cera’s performance as Bjorn was praised for innocence, with reviews noting the film’s dense detail, stylized satire, and many isolated celebrity cameo scenes.
- Despite thoughtful themes on mortality and legacy, The Phoenician Scheme received mixed responses, with some fans feeling alienated and viewing it as more aesthetic than emotional.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Wes Anderson on the art of making 'The Phoenician Scheme' assassination attempts feel 'like little magic tricks'
Plus, he explains how he decided to show someone "be blown literally in half."Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera in 'The Phoenician Scheme'Key PointsDirector Wes Anderson explains how he devised the numerous artful assassination attempts in The Phoenician Scheme.The goal, he says, was to make them "both brutal and visceral literally, but it ought to be sort of delighting the audience."P…
Film reviews: The Phoenician Scheme, Bring Her Back, and Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
The Phoenician SchemeDirected by Wes Anderson (PG-13)★★★Though it's easy to enjoy, The Phoenician Scheme "feels unlikely to be anyone's favorite Wes Anderson flick," said Brian Tallerico in RogerEbert.com. "One of his flat-out goofiest movies," filled with sight gags and physical humor, it casts a "perfectly deadpan" Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, a hated 1950s European tycoon trying to reconnect with Liesl, his novitiate daughter, as he tri…
The Phoenician Scheme review: Wes Anderson's beautiful but lifeless political satire
Review of Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme - despite gorgeous visuals and strong performances, this 1950s tycoon satire feels like a dry exercise in style over substance Read more at straitstimes.com.
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