Movie Review: the Phoenician Scheme

June 20, 2025

Wes Anderson is known for his quirky style and his top tear cast, but this movie really might be, in my opinion, one of the strangest he has made.

We follow the story of a young woman named Liesl, who is played by Mia Threapleton, meeting her father, Zsa-zsa Korda, played by Benicio del Toro. She learns that she is going to be his sole heir in event that he dies after one of the very many assignation attempts is successful. He proceeds to explain to her his life work and what is going to be needed to complete it. He is a very important businessman, but Liesl really has no interest at all because she is desiring to become a nun. In fact, she is only a month away from signing her paperwork to become a full nun. Liesl’s father does not accept that she is about to become a nun, and continues to explain his attempts to develop his absolutely fictional kingdom of Phoenicia in the Middle East, which is his life work. Over the course of the movie, Zsa-zsa faces death many times, comes in contact with his many investors as well as terrorists, his horrible half brother, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and accompanied by his children's tutor and his adversary, Micheal Cera.

I really am not sure how to explain what happens in this movie, or why it happens the way that it does, but it is ridiculous and hilarious. Micheal Cera may just be my favorite part, though, in spite of the extremely star studded cast. How anyone is able to act alongside him and keep a straight face is beyond me. I did really enjoy this movie, but I will warn you, it is quite graphic as far as bloodiness so do proceed with caution if you are squeamish around blood.