THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME (2025)

Written & Directed By: Wes Anderson

Story By: Wes Anderson And Roman Coopola 

Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel

Editor: Barney Pilling 

Cast: Benecio Del Toro, Mia Therapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johanson, Jeffrey Wright, Riz Ahmed, Bill Murray

Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins.

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It’s getting harder and harder to review Wes Anderson films as it feels like with each film he gets more and more Lost or not even Lost just sticks to his style

There is nothing wrong with that even though it might annoy Some audiences. who want

him more to evolve, just asked from his early films, which had certain sensibilities, but weren’t quite as artistic, as his films are now and at least felt a little more free, whereas his films now, which is a style feel a little more closed off

It feels like more he’s making the film for himself than necessarily an audience. Now he does achieve what most filmmakers seek. He creates his own world and settles into his own absurdist fashion comedies with a tight, bright aesthetic, and all seem to be homage to something or someone.

Is films aren’t necessarily bad it’s just a style you have to get used to it either. You love it or you hate it. You Can enjoy them because they are visual story books pretty much while one can’t say they loved each and every one  of his films but one will say there’s at least something interesting about each film and they’re all pretty to look at.

This film one can believe allows younTo get into a bit more than his last film ASTEROID CITY, maybe because it wasn’t such a big cast and while it’s kind of a spy/espionage tale, that seems to go global near Sumner. This one is more enjoyable personally because he tries to be deep at times, but it more focused on the actual story plot and moving forward, even though there are plenty of character moment.

whereas ASTEROID CITY, each was just the size of the cast was so grand, but it did have more dramatic moments and showcasing of actors but that also seem to be a little bit more devoted to a little sci-fi, but definitely to theater whereas this film still has that kind of deadpan humor. It does have an emotional center that is an obvious, but it does come about this also feels more like a common. 

That with this room, Benicio Del Toro gets the rare leading man role, where he gets to be comedic and suave and commanding even though he’s surrounded by an ensemble, who more seem to play caricatures or pretty much their wardrobe, pretty much defines their character it’s still managed to take you on a journey maybe not as emotional this one is a bit more detached, playing more into it setting in Europe 

The film does offer Michael Cera, a more noteworthy rolled and he has had in sometime. No as an ensemble whenever the big names in the Castillo show up, it’s still does feel like they’re more guest starring. It’s a little jarring and takes you out a little reminding you that it’s a production but then again, that is how most of Anderson’s films tend to feel as over the years they feel like they’ve gotten more and more away from any kind of reality or truth, at least in any kind of world that we might now but makes sense and can be emotional and their own kind of worlds.

This places perfectly into his wheelhouse, but it seems to lack the flare that his films usually have

One will say that Wes Anderson films are starting to feel like not only their own world, but kind of going into a museum where the designs and patterns are so well. So that they always seem hip and watchable.

Grade: B 

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (2022)

Directed by: Anthony Fabian 
Written By: Anthony Fabian, Carroll Cartwright, Keith Thompson and Olivia Hetreed 
Based On The Novel Written By: Paul Gallico 
Cinematography: Felix Wiedemann
Editor: Barney Pilling

Cast: Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Jason Issacs, Lucas Bravo, Ellen Thomas, Rose Williams, Anna Chancellor, Christian McKay 

A widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own.


I can’t say what made me want to see this film. As I will admit I was smitten as soon as I saw the poster and the trailer. I am glad that neither lets you down. As they pretty much preview the spirit of the film.

This is a good comfort movie. What I would call a perfect Sunday film. It’s entirely predictable and charming. Leaving the audience with a smile and managing to stay inoffensive throughout. 

This is the type of movie you go to in theaters to come out smiling or the ones you would wait to see at the discount theaters at least. 

This film even starts or predicts attitudes changing in the past that only started to happen recently.

It manages to set up what looks to be a whirlwind romance for a character that eventually fails, yet brings the character and movie down to earth. So that it isn’t a complete fantasy. Though later rewards the characters with something much more stable, sweet, and stronger. Luckily It’s not the main focus of the film.

Amazed by the character actress Lesley Manville who usually plays villains, especially you love to hate. Here she is so sweet and winning. 

It’s a film full of lessons that eventually are taught, shown, or learned. Where food usually prevails. Mean characters are shown to have other sides. 

The film never quite feels like something special. Though constantly puts you in a good mood. Good movie to watch with family.

Almost like a children’s Fantasy film made for adults only without the fantasy, but keeps the mood. 

It’s one of those films where a sensible nice person upsets the jet set but then makes them realize the errors of their ways and reminds them that there are regular and pure people in the world.

As usual, the film seems Like everything is going to go along dreamily for the lead character except for some challenges laid her way. Though the film does at turns keep you second guessing and makes the lead truly have to either work to get to her happy ending or has it taken away and the hanks to her strength of character get it rectified or helped along the way by others. 

This comes from her learning lessons about her nice nature at times and that those who you try to care for and protect Don’t always feel the same way it have the same intent in their hearts.

Grade: B