Film: The Phoenician Scheme

The Phoenician Scheme

I’d forgotten this film by the time I came to write this up. This indicates it's not Asteroid City, which I still ponder from a couple of years ago, nor indeed the classics, The Grand Budapest Hotel and the best one, Isle of Dogs. However, it retains all the Wes Anderson hallmarks of bright colours, unorthodox behaviours, and a large cast making little sense.

The Phoenician Scheme centres on an incredibly wealthy man, Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), who has been widowed multiple times and has nine sons who do not reside in his vast mansion, along with one daughter, a nun, from whom he has requested a visit.

Phoenicia is a country rather than an old profession as it might sound. I assumed it was fictional, but my research indicates it was a place in the Middle East (or, if you’re Israel, Europe). Korda, having lived through nearly as many plane crashes as he has lost wives, wants to complete his grand plan before his luck runs out and yet another attempt on his life is successful. He has enlisted various members of his family and friends as investors to help him finish what he has started.

Before his luck runs out, it also involves his uninterested daughter, whom he regards as his sole heir.

Just because I didn’t recall it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy 100 minutes of escapism into the Wes world.

6½/10