When Bjørn Lund (Michael Cera) jumps into a pit of quicksand to save Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) in “The Phoenician Scheme,” he’s not doing it because he really cares about Zsa-zsa.
Who he really cares about is Liesl (Mia Threapleton), the business tycoon’s daughter, who is so desperate to separate herself from her ruthless, disgustingly rich father that she has become a nun. Alas, despite her best efforts, Liesl cares about Zsa-zsa, and when Bjørn pulls him from the quicksand, she’s relieved and clearly upset with herself at the scope of that feeling. As she stalks off, Bjørn asks Zsa-zsa if he’d like to learn more about quicksand. He looks longingly over at Liesl and says, “No. It’s too late.”
“The Phoenician Scheme” isn’t the first Wes Anderson film about broken men and broken families (“The Royal Tenenbaums” is all over this thing). It’s familiar territory for Anderson, but, as the old adage goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And it definitely ain’t broke. Despite treading familiar territory, “The Phoenician Scheme” is both darker in its construction and sillier in its execution than Anderson’s more recent output. It’s a black comedy with a twinkle in its eye, a flighty, fantastical romp about the struggle for one man’s soul – is it really too late, or can this heartless mogul find his second chance?
Read Sammie’s full review on Rough Draft
