The Phoenician Scheme

Don’t believe those that tell you Wes Anderson is becoming a caricature of himself. The Phoenician Scheme is fresh and funny (and not quite as confusing as Asteroid City, never fear). A cautionary, anti-capitalist tale, with a quirky father-daughter dynamic, and a bug-obsessed Michal Cera? Yes please. Deeper, darker colour grading, some interesting and less-typically-Anderson camera shots and bloody injuries? Perhaps not exactly what you would expect from our director but it’s a welcome change-up. Undeniably, the film makes a darker shift, both visually and thematically, but this is never at the expense of witty humour and minute details. Champagne bottle in a bidet-ice-bucket? You’ve got it.

We’re introduced to a few new faces that have been added to Anderson’s acting arsenal. Mia Threapleton brings a solid lead alongside Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera is hilarious as ever, and Richard Ayoade makes a welcome appearance. I’m enjoying the vaguely existential/chased-by-death direction that Anderson’s last few films have been heading towards, so I’m excited to see how The Phoenician Scheme sets him up for future films.

Oh, and Benedict Cumberbatch has some very impressive eyebrows.

Dallon Costello