Read Time: 5 Minutes
| Release Date | 29 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Distributed By | Searchlight Pictures |
| Writers | Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola |
| Cast | Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and more |
| Runtime | 1h 45m |
| Age Rating | PG-13 |
| Genre | Comedy, Adventure |
| Budget | $40–50 million (estimated) |
Review:
Wes Anderson returns with another whimsically intricate comedy in The Phoenician Scheme, a riotously absurd yet oddly tender globe-trotting adventure that sees the acclaimed auteur push both visual and narrative boundaries. If you thought Asteroid City was his most elaborate work yet, this film one-ups it with a labyrinth of eccentric characters, geopolitical shenanigans, and—believe it or not—hand grenades served with cocktails.
At the heart of the chaos is Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro, as deadpan as ever), a tycoon with an alarming tendency to survive assassination attempts and an even more alarming business philosophy. When he names his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a nun-in-training, as his heir, a bizarre family and corporate drama ensues. With each city visited and every would-be assassin dodged, Anderson revels in the absurd, painting a surrealist canvas of capitalism, familial obligation, and spiritual reckoning.
Threapleton brings surprising gravitas to her role, offering emotional depth amid the film’s spiraling comedy. Meanwhile, Michael Cera shines as a socially awkward academic with karate skills and secrets—delivering perhaps the most unforgettable performance of his career. The supporting cast, from Jeffrey Wright to Willem Dafoe and Bill Murray as (yes) God, contributes to a perfectly calibrated cacophony.
Visually, Anderson’s trademarks are all present—symmetry, storybook color palettes, chaptered scenes—but there's a newfound chaos in how tightly wound everything feels. While the plot occasionally stumbles under its own eccentric weight, there’s an undeniable charm to watching world-class actors commit to such unapologetically stylized storytelling.
The Phoenician Scheme may not be Anderson’s tightest narrative, but it’s certainly among his most entertaining. Underneath the grenades and global negotiations lies a surprisingly poignant tale about redemption, legacy, and the complicated dance between faith and power. If you’re in for a delightfully strange ride where the stakes are high but the tone is dry, this is one to watch—maybe even twice.
“Who shot you?”
“Terrorists from out of town. Help yourself to a hand grenade.”
Watch it. It’s explosive—in all the best ways.
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