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Wes Anderson came back with memorable characters in The Phoenician Scheme, a dark comedy set in the 1950s about a business tycoon named Anatole "Zsa-Zsa" Korda embarking on a chaotic journey with his daughter, Sister Liesl, who becomes the heir to his estate. When he hatches a plan to take over Phonecia, investors, assassins, and enemies come out of the woodwork to challenge him.
The movie is ripe with some of the most unique characters. In typical Anderson fashion, they are odd, their humor is deadpan, and their vacant eyes somehow manage to capture the entire spectrum of human emotions as they navigate the exaggerated, high-color contrast world of The Phoenician Scheme.
Here are the 7 best characters based on performance and their contribution to the dark comedy movie's unique storyline.
Disclaimer: All opinions in this article belong solely to the writer. Spoilers ahead. Reader discretion is advised.
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The Phoenician Scheme: Which characters stole the show?
1) Bjørn Lund (Michael Cera)
Cera finally made his debut in the Wes Anderson world as the awkward Norwegian entomologist Bjørn Lund. Completely smitten with Sisten Liesl and adept at acting unaware of any situation, Cera played Bjørn to perfection. He is endearing--bowtie and all--but his plan is exposed when he is revealed to be a spy for Excalibur's consortium. However, he switches teams because of his love for Liesl.
Bjørn adds dorky and endearing humor to The Phoenician Scheme, whether it's getting drunk on three beers and asking Liesl whether she could love him, or holding a bomb up and wondering if it was supposed to be in the train with them. His lilting Norwegian accent is a cherry on top.
2) Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton)
Threapleton's Liesl immediately became a fan favorite for being the kind of person who would bring a knife to a gun fight relentlessly. She portrays the turbulence of a daughter abandoned by a father to perfection, begrudgingly accepting her new role in his life with an ever-observing eye of suspicion.
Everything, from her look--a bright white nun outfit complete with a coif--to her steadfast faith, is a breath of fresh air in Korda's murky business underworld, but by the end of The Phoenician Scheme, she understands the depths of his repressed emotions and gives them another shot at being a family. Her deadpan dialogue delivery perfectly conveys humor, mirth, or anger.
3) Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benecio del Toro)
Korda's screen presence as the mighty business tycoon who is scorned at home is indomitable. He is a man of clever duality, and Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola's writing shines through del Toro's acting prowess. On the one hand, he is ruthless, doing what it takes to become successful. On the other hand, he carries shame, guilt, and grief for abandoning his only daughter, Liesl.
Throughout The Phoenician Scheme, Korda wears his personality on his sleeve. From childish temper tantrums to being aware of his amoral behavior, he portrays an atypical businessman containing multitudes. To top it off, del Toro's dialogue delivery is playful, almost mischievous, making every scene he is in memorable.
4) Uncle Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Sneaky, cunning, and outlandish, Cumberbatch lords over the premise of The Phoenician Scheme, with his big blue eyes, scraggly beard, and cartoonish eyebrows. He is the menacing antagonist who had an affair with Liesl's mother, sired Liesl, then killed her mother, all while also trying to assassinate Korda every step of the way.
Cumberbatch's measured dialogue delivery is a delight to watch, and his involvement in filling The Gap is one of the turning points of the dark comedy. His distrustful relationship with Korda fuels most of the movie's narrative, and his sinister energy remains on screen even when he doesn't.
5) Leland (Tom Hanks)
Heckling, jaw-dropping basketball skills, and a fresh dose of humor follow Tom Hanks' Leland, a quirky business partner in one of Korda's many business dealings. His on-screen chemistry with Bryan Cranston's Reagan (they're the tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum of The Phoenician Scheme) elevates the laugh-out-loud quotient.
Although his role is limited in the grand scheme of things, Hanks manages to make a mark with his charisma and wry dialogue. He mixes the classic Wes Anderson character stereotype with his flair, making him one of the best characters in the movie.
6) Aunt Hilda (Scarlett Johansson)
Korda goes to comical extremes to get more investors on his tanking project. Case in point: His marriage proposal to his milkmaid braid-clad, no-nonsense, and more importantly, rich second cousin Hilda. Johansson shows up and adds more chaos to The Phoenician Scheme, agreeing to marry Korda but refusing to invest in his schemes.
Johansson's blunt demeanor, combined with her on-screen chemistry with the cast, makes her an interesting addition to the movie. She is so sure of herself, fans can't help but admire her.
7) Prince Farouk (Riz Ahmed)
Low in screen time but high in appeal, Riz Ahmed waltzes into the premise of The Phoenician Scheme with high ambitions. As the heir to Phoenicia, he is the first to collude with Korda on his shiny new business scheme. He is animated and caricaturish, reminiscent of classic Wes Anderson flicks.
His towering physique makes his low-confidence persona memorable and relatable, making fans root for him right away. The only drawback? His limited scenes. More Prince Farouk, please!
With memorable characters like Bill Murray's God and Jeffrey Wright's Marty, The Phoenician Scheme created a brand new world full of chaos and grandeur. While it received middling reviews from some, it signalled the comeback of quintessential Anderson and his ability to hook the audience with deadpan humor.
