REVIEW: THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

4/5

Absolutely Wes Anderson 

101 Mins. Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe & Bill Murray. Screenplay: Wes Anderson. Director: Wes Anderson. In: Theatres. 

Scheming socials seem to say Wes Anderson is done. Or at least his special signature style, which is an actual art-form in itself, is getting old hat. Yet, we must tip our cap. They've been saying this since 'The French Dispatch Of The Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun', but that was just after COVID, people can be forgiven for being cranky. The same people who turned his cinematic celluloid canvas into an Instagram internet sensation, 'Accidentally Wes Anderson', with their own personal photos that turned into a worldwide unofficial museum exhibition for your art galleries. I mean, did they not see what he did with Roald Dahl's work for Netflix recently? 'The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar', 'The Swan', 'The Ratcatcher', the powerful 'Poison'. All stunning shorts. Even the out of this world 'Asteroid City' saved me after a bad breakup. Taking sweet solace in the simple statement that turned into a closing cut from the pulp of Jarvis Cocker. "You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep!"

Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe and Bill Murray. I mean really we shouldn't spoil the amount of stars in any Anderson picture, the benefit of living in Japan with movie posters being written in kanji, but they are revealed in the outstanding and classic opening credits, tiled to a bathtub that it's leading man leans out of in instant iconography. And may we say what a joy it is to have the great Benicio del Toro starring in both a Wes Anderson movie (like he did 'The French Dispatch') and a Paul Thomas Anderson one (as Leonardo DiCaprio's sensei in 'One Battle After Another') in the same summer. Those two directors neck and neck (if only Wes shot Haim videos), as Anderson stacks Criterion closet like classics like he does big names. 'The Royal Tenenbaums', 'The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou', 'The Darjeeling Limited', 'Fantastic Mr. Fox', 'Moonrise Kingdom', 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'. At this point, we're practically listing them all. OK, 'Bottle Rocket, 'Rushmore' and 'Isle Of Dogs'.

Whether Anderson lifers (Murray, Dafoe, Cranston), or new frequent fliers (Hanks, Johansson, Wright and Ayoade), 'The Phoenician Scheme' soars with its brand of offbeat humour and amazing aesthetic. Cue crashes and caught arrowheads, as the rumours of del Toro's lead's demise have been greatly exaggerated...multiple times. Bandaged up like Owen Wilson over tea, Benicio is brilliant in one of the roles of the 'Che', 'Inherent Vice' and 'Sicario' star's life. We're with him to the end of the line like someone in a Marvel movie. Oh...he's collected roles there too, alongside 'Star Wars' for a Disney plus...but we should probably avoid that territory if we're feeling lucky. Never mind, we'll head for the cornfields, where Benicio's schemer is handing out grenades like pineapples because that's kind of him. Magnificent. MAGNIFICENT! This espionage black comedy, coined and conjured up by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, like the last couple, concerns a 1950s arms dealer and industrialist who cheats everyone like he fiddles death (not literally, that's one way to get into heaven), albeit with some trips to the amazing afterlife in black and white in-between. A man who is part Gatsby, part Frank Abagnale Jr. Did Benicio take notes off of Leo?

Swindling and looking to split the pieces of the pie of his Phoenician scheme, Toro takes his tin tube across the globe for a glorious and gorgeous movie shot in Germany. Riz Ahmed oozes royalty and grandma style in a bawdy and brilliant game of basketball with Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston. Now, you know I just loved this. Best celebrity pick-up game since along came Ben Stiller and the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman to the "ICEMAN" court party. 'Munich' and 'Quantum Of Solace' star Mathieu Amalric is just fabulous in a fez. And the revolutionary Richard Ayoade has finally found the director to take his amazing talents to the next level. Finding a home, just like Jeffrey Wright, whose been here since narrating the final act of 'French Dispatch' like the Watcher that he is. Whereas a gonzo, chameleonic Cumberbatch has never looked this strange. Yet for all the Wes reunions, like Johansson and Friend after this summer's 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' and amazing appearances from Hope Davis, Stephen Park and F. Murray Abraham. It's the big-three that really bring it home. Benicio, Michael Cera at his 'Youth In Revolt' best in years, and the scene-stealing Mia Threapleton becoming a serious star. Because in the end, like 'One Battle After Another', this is all about a father's love, like the dedication to Anderson's in-law, Lebanese engineer Fouad Malouf. That's the real plot afoot. No game or scheme about it. A rich delight. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Asteroid City', 'The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar', 'One Battle After Another'.