As I stated with my last review, I skipped a new release last weekend but have two for this weekend. Would I go for the Wes Anderson movie or the John Wick spin-off? I settled for the Wes Anderson for a couple reasons. First, I was going later in the day, and it was the shorter movie. Second, I think there’s a better chance a John Wick spin-off stays in theaters longer than any Wes Anderson movie since Anderson’s work can be something of an acquired taste. So, it was an easy call. I can probably see Ballerina next weekend.
Besides, Bill Murray appeared as God in The Phoenician Scheme. I don’t think that’s happening anywhere else.
Ruthless businessman Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda (Benicio Del Toro) is working on his latest project while doing as he always does: stays just outside of all legal jurisdiction to maximize his own personal profits. That draws a lot of ire, though the shadowy cabal of government interests seem more inclined to simply take his money somehow after repeated humiliations. Someone else is trying to kill him. As such, Korda decides to name his oldest child and only daughter, nun initiate Liesl (Mia Threapleton) his conditional heir and not one of her nine younger brothers. Liesl’s mother died under mysterious circumstances, and while most claim Korda himself killed her, he insists he did not. Considering he keeps having these black-and-white flashes to what looks like the afterlife, he may have cause for concern about how much longer he’s going to be around anyway.
But thanks to some financial shenanigans by the governments, Korda will have to go see each of his big investors for more money to finish his big dam/canal/railroad project down in Phoenicia. They’re the usual assortment of weirdos an oddballs played by actors with distinct faces that pop up in all of Anderson’s movies, but the last one on the list, Korda’s estranged half-brother Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch) may be the most important as he may be the key to solving all of the mysteries surrounding Liesl’s mother. The two set out with Korda’s new insect tutor Bjorn (Michael Cera) along for the ride as a substitute executive secretary. Too bad someone is still trying to kill Korda, but he did bring along a crate full of hand grenades. They might come in handy.
Let me state the obvious first: it’s a Wes Anderson movie. There’s symmetrical sets, cartoonish-looking locations, and deadpan delivery going all around. The plot to get the different investors to pony up some more cash may not make a lot of sense, but it doesn’t have to. And yet, something about this one didn’t work as well for me. Cera is an inspired addition to Anderson’s usual ensemble, but Threapleton didn’t work as well for me for some reason. Could it be that I am being worn out for Anderson’s unique style?
I don’t think so. What does work works well, and I can’t imagine any Anderson fan walking away from this one unsatisfied. Then again, I can’t imagine anyone that isn’t a fan going to see his stuff in the first place. I had a good time here, but I think I have had better times at other Anderson movies. Make of that what you will.
Grade: B-
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