The Phoenician Scheme review – My sky-high hopes for Wes Anderson’s latest were dashed
It's not the return to top-tier filmmaking I was hoping.
I was ready to anoint Wes Anderson’s new film The Phoenician Scheme his best work yet if it followed in the fashion of its giddy, amusing and succinct trailer.
But unfortunately, after a promising start, it somewhat crashes and burns and I’ve been left wondering what could have been.
We were promised a cohesive and engaging comedy caper, just like his Oscar-nominated 2014 movie The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is regularly cited as among his greatest work.
Sadly, I don’t see this one making it into the filmmaker’s fans’ top tier either, the same as its predecessor Asteroid City – although there is always much to admire.
Even a weak Wes Anderson film is a visual treat for the eyes and a witty and off-beat adventure for the soul.
The opening section of the film promised a lot of action after business tycoon Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) dramatically escapes a sixth assassination attempt – firing his pilot midair as they try to land the beleaguered plane after a man is ripped clean in half.
