Plot: What’s it about?
I’m sure that I’ve mentioned this in one of my other reviews of Wes Anderson films, but I don’t have it in me to dive through the reviews and cite which one. I’ll just say that my mother and I were channel surfing in…we’ll call it 1997 and came across a film that sparked our interest. As it turns out, that movie was Bottle Rocket and introduced us to the world of Wes Anderson (and it also gave us Owen and Luke Wilson). I was an instant fan and it was the next year that we got Rushmore – a movie that put Bill Murray on the map as a dramatic actor (though he still dabbled in comedy). Over the years, Anderson’s films have continued to display the same sort of tone and rhythm, giving us some fairly off the wall characters. With The Phoenician Scheme, it’s a bit of a departure, but it still has that feel. Oh and the casting is brilliant – as ever. That’s fine. He can pull it off. And I’m sure the characters of this film would have a field day with this writers’ style.
Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro) has money, but is more well-known for his less than scrupulous practices. And this is, in no small reason, why people are constantly trying to assassinate him. He’s currently in the midst of carrying out a scheme that involves difficult negotiations with various dignitaries. To assist with this, he brings in his estranged daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton). She’s believes that Zsa-Zsa may have murdered her mother. Joining them on their travels is Bjørn Lund (Michael Cera) – a bug expert and a tutor who has a thing for Liesl. As the deal progresses, it puts the trio in contact with a panicked prince (Riz Ahmed), two basketball-loving businessmen (Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston), a nightclub owner (Mathieu Amalric), an investor (Jeffrey Wright) and Korda’s second cousin, Hilda (Scarlett Johansson). Lastly we have Uncle Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch), Zsa-Zsa’s half brother and someone who might mess this whole thing up.
Wes Anderson’s films are known for a few things, but I’ve always enjoyed his ensemble casts. And that’s here in spades. To see some of these A-list actors deliver their lines in pure deadpan form is an art all in itself. And if Mia Threapleton looks familiar, it’s because she’s a spot on dead ringer for her mother – Kate Winslet. A co-worker of mine and I were discussing this movie (before I’d viewed it) and she told me that “this one never lets up.” In that there wasn’t the down time that a lot of other films, and other Wes Anderson films, have. She was correct. At 101 minutes, the film seems to flow a lot better than others and it’s one I’ll watch again if for no other reason that to catch all the little idiosyncrasies that I’d missed the first time. You gotta love a Wes Anderson film.
Video: How’s it look?
I’ve seen a lot of films in my day, but this might be the first that I’ve seen that’s presented in a 1.47:1 aspect ratio. So, yeah, those widescreen HDTV’s you’ve got are going to have some pretty large black boxes on the sides with this one. But, as always is the case with a Wes Anderson movie, we’ll have extremely precise picture framing, elaborate dolly shots and colors that range from cotton candy colored to black and white. Anderson’s films are such that, even if you didn’t know who directed the movie, you’d be able to tell simply by the visual style. Having said that, the HEVC 4K image is everything we’d expect (other than it not filling the screen) with amazing detail, bold contrast and everything in between. It’s an interesting-looking image, to be sure.
Audio: How’s it sound?
We’ve got a Dolby Atmos track that has its moments, but again – considering the director, this isn’t one that’ll shake the walls. Rather, the immersive and atmosphric mix is a delight to listen to and I have to admit that I was surprised when the LFE got involved in a few scenes. But, as we might expect, the main component with an Anderson film is the dialogue and it all sounds divine coming out of that center channel. It’s not as “in your face” as some Atmos soundtracks out there, then again it’s not supposed to be.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Behind The Phoenician Scheme – Technically speaking, this is a series of four vingnettes that explore the making of the film. In actuality, only one of them manages to run more than five minutes (The Cast) while the others play out like a glorified trailer. Still, ’tis better to have than have not.
- The Cast
- The Airplane
- Marseille Bob’s
- Zsa-zsa’s World
The Bottom Line
There’s a different tone and vibe to this one, but one that I enjoyed. I have to hand it to Benicio Del Toro as he carries the film even with the star-studded cast. Universal’s disc both looks and sounds the part, though the supplements are a bit on the paltry side. It’s a worthwhile addition to your Wes Anderson collection.
