The Phoenician Scheme

 

        The latest film from writer/director Wes Anderson is jammed packed with famous actors in cameo roles. This is not unusual as actors love to work with Mr. Anderson and many of them have appeared in his films before.

         Benicio del Toro stars as Anatole "Zsa-Zsa" Korda, a wealthy and ruthless businessman Who plans his biggest venture yet, the "Phoenician Scheme".  The complicated scheme is presented to his daughter Liesi, played by Mia Threapleton, as a device to also explain the scheme to the audience.  During the course of the film,  Korda and his daughter (who's about to become a nun) meet the various characters who can help carry our Korda's plans.

           The film co-stars Michael Cera and Rupert Friend and in various cameos, Riz Amed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scalett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hope Davis, Bill Murray, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, and Stephen Park.

            There are many funny sequences and very witty dialog, which you would come to expect from Mr. Anderson. What is also true of a Wes Anderson film is the wonderful art direction and this film is no exception. The film and it's set pieces are literal works of art. It is a beautiful film to watch, even if you're having trouble following the plot.

           While not the best film in the Anderson canon, fans will absolutely enjoy themselves.