Movie Review: The Phoenician Scheme

Idiosyncratic. Quirky. Off-beat. Those adjectives best describe Wes Anderson’s new movie The Phoenician Scheme, and those characteristics explain why critics and movie-goers either love the film or hate it, resulting in unpromising reviews online. I had been on the fence about whether or not to see it, based on the reviews, yet the trailer looked intriguing. My friend Phaedra, an avid Wes Anderson fan who gives good movie advice generally, loved and recommended it, so I gave it a chance and saw it on Saturday.

Set in 1950, Anatole “Zsa Zsa” Korda (Benicio del Toro) is a wealthy international businessman — specializing in armaments, infrastructure, and shrewd negotiations — who narrowly escapes the latest assassination attempt against him. Recognizing his mortality and needing an heir to take over his business should he perish, he arranges a meeting with his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton), who is currently discerning religious life as a nun. During the meeting, Korda’s nine sons make an appearance along an upstairs landing, and it is established that Korda has largely been an absentee father, relegating his sons to live in a different dwelling across the street. Bjørn Lund (Michael Cera) also appears, introducing himself as an entomologist whom Korda has hired to tutor the boys. Korda later promotes Bjørn to be his personal assistant. Liesl initially refuses to help her father with the business, citing their strained relationship (including rumors that he murdered her mother) and her current religious vocation. However, Korda lays out his plan for a final business venture, meticulously organized in a series of shoeboxes that function as a plot device as the movie progresses. Korda’s plan aspires to overhaul and upgrade the infrastructure of fictional Phoenicia with railways, waterways, and utilities. Leisl agrees to help her father on a trial basis. They encounter opposition, however, from Agent Excalibur (Rupert Friend) and a consortium of government officials who conspire to stop Korda’s unethical business practices by imposing a steep tariff on building materials. Increased construction costs mean that Korda, accompanied by Liesl and Bjørn, must negotiate with a series of investors to cover the shortfall: crown prince of Phoencia Prince Farouk (Riz Ahmed); California businessmen Leland (Tom Hanks) and Reagan (Bryan Cranston); romantic interest Cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson); French nightclub owner Marseilles Bob (Mathieu Amalric); American ship captain Marty (Jeffrey Wright); and his estranged half-brother Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch). At each turn, Korda attempts to deceive his partners with undisclosed changes to their agreements, faces additional violence and assassination attempts, and is forced to reckon with the consequences of his lifetime of ruthless decisions. He must decide whether to remain the heartless, selfish businessman he’s always been or repair the wounds he’s created to leave a legacy that really matters.

For me, the film’s eccentricity is what makes it entertaining and endearing. While not directly connected to this film in any way, an easily identifiable and relatable example of an eccentric, idiosyncratic character is Agathie Christie’s Hercule Poirot, particularly as portrayed by David Suchet in the TV series and subsequent movies. Poirot methodically does things according to unique, possibly peculiar, routines and behaviors. Familiarity with Poirot is a good framework to use for evaluating The Phoenician Scheme as its plot and character development function in a similar way; each character and each event has stylized traits that are unique to that person or moment, usually exaggerating or calling attention to what is humorous or ironic about what is happening. Real human relationships form and meaningful reflection on life’s decisions and outcomes happen within this stylized framework, which makes the film satisfying rather than merely superficial. Leisl’s character, expertly played by Threapleton, is a consistent voice of reason throughout the narrative who seems to temper and refine Korda’s excesses. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance! Bjørn is delightfully quirky and awkward throughout, with an unexpected plot twist in the third act, and Cera delivers an amusing performance. Korda’s character arc, well played by del Toro, gives a worthwhile examination of self-interested priorities and investing in meaningful relationships. The film’s ending is unexpectedly tender.

Movie-goers who are already fans of Wes Anderson’s work will undoubtedly enjoy The Phoenician Scheme. Movie-goers who are less familiar with his work or this genre of film should still give it a try. They will find a humorous and touching narrative. Just expect it to be unconventional. Check local listings for dates and times. Also, fans of Wes Anderson’s work located in Salt Lake City will be interested to know that Broadway Centre Cinemas will be showing another Wes Anderson movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel, this weekend. Click here for information and tickets.