The Phoenician Scheme (2025) - 4K Ultra HD Assessment

      The Phoenician Scheme, 2025.

      Directed by Wes Anderson.

      Featuring Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, and Hope Davis.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Wes Anderson’s latest charming narrative, The Phoenician Scheme, is now available in 4K Ultra HD, including a Blu-ray disc and a digital code. Although it may not rank among my top favorites in his filmography, it remains an impressive work with a remarkable ensemble cast and a distinct perspective on the world that is uniquely his. The extras included are somewhat limited, but I suspect Criterion will enhance this in the next year or two.

      In today's chaotic world, I find solace in knowing that Wes Anderson releases a new film every few years, allowing me to escape into a singular universe that interprets our reality through his unique lens. He has solidified his place as one of my favorite directors.

      While The Phoenician Scheme may not be my favorite of his works, it still represents a robust entry that demonstrates his ability to infuse fresh vigor into his filmmaking style. Benicio del Toro portrays Anatole “Zsa-Zsa,” a callous arms dealer and industrialist.

      Following a surviving an assassination attempt and falling into an unconscious state, Zsa-Zsa finds himself in the afterlife, where God (Bill Murray) provides a severe evaluation of his eligibility for Heaven. Upon waking, he decides to mend his relationship with his only daughter, Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), who has become estranged from him.

      Meanwhile, Zsa-Zsa's unethical business dealings have angered governments worldwide, prompting him to gamble his wealth on a plan to revamp Phoenicia’s infrastructure with forced labor. As a conspiracy against him increases the costs of construction materials, Zsa-Zsa resolves to con his investors rather than face bankruptcy.

      Accompanied by Liesl and his new assistant, Bjørn (Michael Cera), he journeys across the globe to meet investors played by Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, and Mathieu Amalric. This diverse group has its own quirks; for instance, Hanks and Cranston’s characters from California, known as The Sacramento Consortium, prefer settling disputes through basketball.

      Yet, Zsa-Zsa's interactions with his investors are merely the beginning of his intricate plans to maintain his wealth and reconcile with his daughter, involving his cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson), Crown Prince Farouk of Phoenicia (Riz Ahmed), and his estranged half-brother, Uncle Nubar Korda (Benedict Cumberbatch), the only person able to instill genuine fear in him.

      The 4K Ultra HD version of The Phoenician Scheme also includes a Blu-ray disc and a digital copy code. Regrettably, the extras are quite limited, but Criterion has a strong history of releasing editions of Anderson's films full of bonus content, so I expect they will address this soon.

      In the meantime, there are four featurettes totaling approximately 14 minutes under the title, Behind the Phoenician Scheme. The first, The Cast, runs 7.5 minutes and covers the characters in the film, with Anderson providing insights about them.

      The other three featurettes are brief: The Airplane (1:20) explores the behind-the-scenes chaos of Zsa-Zsa’s flights; Marseille Bob’s (2:02) showcases the creation of the world of a Phoenician investor who is also a nightclub owner and gangster; and Zsa-Zsa’s World (4:16) uses his mock-up of projects as a launching point to discuss those specific sets.

      The trailer concludes the package.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook