Aarcflick

There's a sincere hope in Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Plan, even though its anti-hero is a monument to corruption. Like many of Anderson's films (The Royal Tenenbaums, Asteroid City, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox), his latest film centers on a deeply flawed father determined to connect better with his offspring. The biggest obstacle to his mission is always himself. But Anderson finds a new style in this film by venturing into a new genre: the spy thriller. Anderson has long been condemned by indifferent critics for the drab presentation of his ensembles and his cinematic worlds painted in muted shades of pink and yellow, often condescendingly described as corny. Within these pillars of his style, Anderson has rigorously interrogated toxic masculinity and how it clashes with professional ambition and personal relationships. With The Phoenician Plan, he introduces assassins, spies, poison gas, shootouts, and explosions. These bursts of blood and vio...