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 

SUBMARINE (2010)

Directed By: Richard Ayoade
Written By: Richard Ayoade & Joe Dunthorne
Based on a Novel By: Joe Dunthorne
Cinematography: Erik Alexander Wilson 
Editor: Chris Dickens & Nick Fenton

Cast: Craig Roberts, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, Yasmin Page, Gemma Chan 

Precocious Oliver struggles with being popular in school but when a dark-haired beauty takes interest in him, he’s determined to become the best boyfriend in the world. Meanwhile, his parents’ already rocky relationship is threatened when his mother’s ex-boyfriend moves in next door. Oliver makes some unorthodox plans to ensure that his parents stay together and that Jordana still likes him.
Now, this film is another one where I read the book first and greatly enjoyed the book and wished that they could incorporate most of the book into the film. It is smart and fun.

It takes what it can from the book to make a coherent story. It doesn’t fail to entertain to stand back and marvel at. It’s a film that will be criticized for copying or emulating the style of Wes Anderson.

Let’s face it any movie that has visual camera tricks. A Minuit style, colorful sets and contains a certain innocence in a cynical world, will be accused of copying the style. Wes Anderson didn’t create it. He liked and revels in it as an artistic choice. As it was there before so if another chooses to use a similar style as ling as it is its own story. Which is what director Richard Ayoade does here. One doesn’t see the problem to do the book justice. You would need that style.

The visuals in The film can be distracting but they are so abstract and creative. They never fail to amaze though after a while you tend to get used to them, but you are glad they are to really get to the heart of the scene.

I can admit story-wise there isn’t much at stake. There will be no great tragedy. No one will not be able to recover from, but just as it always will be when you are a teenager. Your emotions are so on edge. Everything even the small moments and decisions feels magnified and the wrong one feels like the beginning of the apocalypse.

It’s a quality film. The only weak spots I felt were the believability if our main Characters’ parents played by Noah Taylor and Sally Hawkins. Who are both good and heartbreaking but they feel in the movie more like characters instead of human beings.

Sally Hawkins seems too unemotional. While Noah Taylor is over the top emotional and you wonder how their characters even Fell in love, but that relationship of what could have been lies in perfect contrast to the main characters Oliver’s relationship with Jordan’s. What is supposed to be and where is this going as when he is romantic she doesn’t want to be close. When she wants to be close be is scared Away.

The film is directed and co-written by Richard Ayoade. Who is a British comedy writer, performer, and sitcom star. I gained an admiration for him. As he presents himself to be a thoughtful, witty, inventive, and talented filmmaker.

The film is magical it reminds you of the many off-kilter films about young outsiders. Over the years and I must admit, I am a sucker for stories about them. Which is what attracted me to the book in the first place.

The film Most reminds me of HAROLD AND MAUDE. Down to Craig Roberts resembling a young Bud Cort.

I believe this film to be a small gem worth seeking out. Definitely an addition to the film library. I only wish it was a criterion collection. Dvd. So one could know all about the production and the director’s choices. I’d even settle for an audio commentary

GRADE: B+