The Phoenician Scheme

By Joanna Langfield

Wes Anderson has injected some pointed social commentary and a surprising dose of emotion into his signature style here. And while the results are intriguing, the mix doesn’t always fulfill the schematic.

A quite dandy Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda, one of the richest and most powerful men in the world. His 1950’s counterparts hate him, yet are intricately tied to his brutal success. And so, when Korda survives a string of assassination attempts, and it’s only a matter of hours until he can scheme his way back into a safe and nasty power, the question is: will those vying for his place get back in line? Or will someone, anyone, finally stand up to this guy?

Anderson loyalists will appreciate the impeccable post modern design that carries us through all the uneven but often very funny shenanigans. And an all star cast seems to enjoy themselves, too. Keep your eyes peeled for Scarlett Johansson, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Willem Dafoe, Benedict Cumberbatch and a, virtually unrecognizable Bill Murray, newcomers to the Anderson company joining in with the usual suspects. But the standout, actually the one you can’t take your eyes off of, is Mia Threapleton, Essentially co-starring with Del Toro, this assured young actress makes the most of the arch and eventually loving nun, who, as Korda’s daughter, is also the unwilling heir to his fortune. Now with a few credits to her name, Threapleton, the daughter of painter-filmmaker Jim Threapleton and actress Kate Winslet, proves with this audacious performance, she is forging a most promising career we can all look forward to.