The Phoenician Scheme 2025

I watched this mainly because of Benicio Del Toro, and right from the start, the film delivers with a strong score and immediate action. There’s a confidence in how it opens, musically and visually, that pulls you in without needing much buildup. I actually like the color palette here. It’s not as heavy on pastels compared to The Grand Budapest Hotel. The colors feel more serious texture while still being unmistakably Wes Anderson. Watching the framing and static shots feels like looking at a tableau on a stage. Clean blocking, very deliberate entrances and exits within the frame, and movements that feel stiff and limited in space. Everything is precise, like the characters are pieces being moved on a board rather than living in a naturalistic world. It’s theatrical, and very composed. The basketball scene in the tunnel with John Cranston and Tom Hanks is genuinely funny, but other than moments like that, I still don’t fully get Wes Anderson’s humor. It often feels dry and distant to me, more intellectual than instinctive. What really worked for me are the sets, especially those with an Egyptian-inspired aesthetic. They look striking and thoughtfully designed, adding visual interest and scale to the film. Even when the humor doesn’t fully land for me, the production design and visual discipline keep the experience engaging.