Wes Anderson's “The Phoenician” Scheme Comes To The Grange

Benicio del Toro and Mia Threapleton star in “The Phoenician Scheme" at The Grange in Whallonsburg.

Looking for something different to do after Thanksgiving? The Grange in Whallonsburg is screening Wes Anderson's latest espionage comedy, The Phoenician Scheme—a visually stunning film that's equal parts family drama, quirky caper, and meditation on redemption.

See it on the big screen at The Grange.

What's it about?

Set in 1950, The Phoenician Scheme follows Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), a morally questionable arms dealer and industrialist who keeps narrowly surviving assassination attempts. After his sixth near-death experience, Korda decides it's time to get his affairs in order. He names his only daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a Catholic novice nun, as his sole heir—despite their deeply strained relationship.

Together with Bjørn (Michael Cera), an eccentric Norwegian entomologist and tutor, father and daughter embark on a globe-trotting business journey.

Korda needs to secure funding for his ambitious infrastructure project in Phoenicia, but assassins, scheming tycoons, and foreign terrorists keep getting in the way.

As the three navigate dangerous negotiations with colorful characters played by an all-star ensemble (Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, and Willem Dafoe), Liesl and Korda are forced to confront painful family secrets and decide what really matters.

The film explores whether a man who has "flattened everything in his way" can learn to see the world three-dimensionally again—and whether redemption is possible for someone who has lived entirely without moral compass.

Critics praise “The Phoenician.”

The Phoenician Scheme premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and earned positive reviews, with a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Telegraph called it Anderson's "tender, witty, wondrous" work, saying it's "the most Andersonian Anderson film to date."

Punch Drunk Critics praised it as "among the best work Wes Anderson has ever done," noting it's "the most enjoyable and daring movie Anderson has ever done" with "a driving, gripping narrative."

One reviewer described it as "a visual banquet, extremely funny, fast paced, and powered by an Igor Stravinsky score," while Consequence magazine called it "a colorful, enjoyable yarn by one of the best cinematic confectioners around" with "some real heart to it."

The performances get high marks across the board. Del Toro brings unexpected vulnerability to the role of the scheming patriarch, while newcomer Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet's daughter) holds her own as his conflicted daughter. Michael Cera is a scene-stealer in what many consider his perfect Anderson debut—delivering deadpan Norwegian-accented wisdom about insects while harboring his own secrets.

So, should you go?

Yes, if you:

• Enjoy Wes Anderson's distinctive visual style (symmetrical compositions, vibrant colors, meticulous production design)

• Appreciate ensemble casts and quirky, deadpan humor

• Like espionage capers with heart

• Want something more substantial than typical holiday weekend fare

• Are drawn to stories about family dynamics and second chances

Maybe skip if you:

• Find Anderson's style overly precious or exhausting

• Prefer straightforward plots (the business dealings can get convoluted)

• Aren't in the mood for something dialogue-heavy and cerebral

The consensus seems to be that while “The Phoenician Scheme” may not convert Anderson skeptics, it's a solidly entertaining entry in his filmography that balances his trademark aesthetics with genuine emotional stakes.

As Roger Ebert's site noted, the film "hums with the precise craftsmanship we expect from this singular filmmaker" and is "so easy to like that it's equally difficult to hate it."

For a cozy evening in the Adirondacks with a film that's both visually dazzling and surprisingly touching, The Grange screening is worth your Friday night.

For more information, visit the Whallonsburg Grange’s website.

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Official trailer for “The Phoenician Scheme.”

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