Courtesy of the Cannes Film Festival

Wes Anderson’s Latest Offering at Cannes: A Whimsical Farce

Starring Benicio Del Toro, Michael Cera, and Scarlett Johansson among others, Wes Anderson’s new film, The Phoenician Scheme, has made its debut at Cannes. With its unique blend of absurdity and fun, the film continues Anderson’s signature style.

Anderson dives deeper into his characteristic quirks in this outing, presenting symmetrical visuals, vibrant costumes, and deadpan dialogues delivered by a familiar star cast, including Bill Murray. Fans and critics alike may question if he will ever stray from this well-known format.

Fortunately, The Phoenician Scheme stands out as one of Anderson’s more humorous works, embracing silliness that invites laughter rather than mere eye rolls. The film kicks off with a vibrant introduction of Zsa-zsa Korda, portrayed by Benicio del Toro, a morally ambiguous businessman reminiscent of historical figures like Hearst and Getty. His outrageous escape from an assassination attempt sets a wildly amusing tone.

Anderson crafts a light, whimsical, yet somewhat slow-paced farce, so absurd in its setups that one might think it was improvised.

As the narrative progresses, Korda’s life becomes less chaotic as he reunites with his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a novice nun. He wishes for her to inherit his fortune—a result of dubious dealings—while also recruiting her help on a risky infrastructure project in the Middle East. Although she’s sceptical, Liesl agrees to stay as she seeks the truth about her mother’s death, allegedly at Korda’s hands.

Chaos ensues when a secret agent sabotages the project, leading Korda to navigate funding challenges with Liesl and his quirky new assistant, Bjorn (Michael Cera). As Korda interacts with various eccentric characters, he continually finds himself in narrowly avoided peril, whimsically transported to a black-and-white afterlife featuring Murray, F. Murray Abraham, and Willem Dafoe.

While the film hints at emotional growth and critiques on wealth and exploitation, it often flits from one episodic scenario to another, relying heavily on catchphrases for comedic effect. Ultimately, The Phoenician Scheme serves as playful entertainment that showcases Anderson’s unique style, even if it may leave some feeling detached from its disjointed storyline. Despite an enjoyable slapstick moment featuring Korda and his mischievous half-brother played by Benedict Cumberbatch, the film may resonate more with its creators than with broader audiences.

Rating: ★★★☆☆