The Phoenician Scheme ★★★★

Released: 23 May 2025

Director: Wes Anderson

Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Scarlett Johansson

With his immaculate aesthetic and off-kilter, distinct brand of humour, Wes Anderson has built one of the most distinctive styles in contemporary cinema. While The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel and his animated films are widely beloved, his past couple of films, The French Dispatch and Asteroid City, have earned slightly more mixed reactions, although still largely leaning positive. His latest is the espionage black comedy The Phoenician Scheme, his 12^th feature film. It sees a return to genre and once again stars an ensemble cast led by Benicio Del Toro and new collaborators Mia Threapleton and Michael Cera alongside a who’s who of familiar faces including Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson and Willem Dafoe.

Set in the early 1950s, the film follows wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Del Toro), who has survived numerous attempted assassinations and conned many of those he has done business with. His latest scheme involves an elaborate project in the Levant region, as he crosses paths with business tycoons and gangs.

The narrative feels more focused than some of Anderson’s recent efforts as we follow Korda, his daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a nun and tutor Bjorn, remarkably Michael Cera’s first collaboration with Anderson and an instantly perfect pairing. These three characters get more depth than others in The French Dispatch or Asteroid City. The focus on the father-daughter relationship builds on themes explored in Asteroid City and, of course, earlier works like The Life Aquatic and Royal Tenenbaums in particular.

The interactions with the likes of Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston’s Leland and Reagan and Mathieu Almaric’s Marseille Bob are delightful slices. It leans into the espionage genre with a sense of intrigue, who is behind these assassination attempts on Korda’s life, with foreign agencies following his every move and intercepting his communications.

The leaning into genre gives this a slightly different air to other recent Anderson fare. Although fans can rest assured, the tone and visual palette that have become so beloved and widely imitated remain in place. Regular Anderson collaborator Alexandre Desplat delivers another strong score that perfectly matches the film’s tone. Meanwhile, newcomer Bruno Delbonnel, a regular with The Coen Brothers and Tim Burton, takes over as cinematographer from Anderson’s long-time pairing with Robert Yeoman.

At this point Anderson’s style is so distinctive that it will either delight or put off viewers. Those already onboard will find plenty to indulge in while more casual fans may struggle to appreciate some of the work here. It has all the qualities that have made him a household name and almost a genre of his own. The big plus for The Phoenician Scheme is a tighter narrative and focus on central characters akin to The Grand Budapest or The Royal Tenenbaums. It is a whimsical treat with plenty of delicious layers to unpack.