In this episode of WVIA Pop Shop, hosts Allan Austin and Patrick Hamilton, with insight from producer Kara Washington, dive deep into Wes Anderson's newest film, The Phoenician Scheme. Is it a quirky masterpiece packed with visual wit and dry humor—or does it stumble under the weight of its own aesthetic?
🎥 Patrick, a Wes Anderson first-timer, offers a fresh perspective, while Allan reflects on the film’s eccentric style, its problematic portrayal of the Middle East, and whether the redemption arc of industrialist Zsa-Zsa Korda (played by Benicio del Toro) really holds up.
🔍 Topics Covered:
- Is The Phoenician Scheme Anderson's most politically tone-deaf film?
- The film’s treatment of slavery, colonialism, and Western privilege
- Michael Cera’s scene-stealing performance and what makes him perfect for Anderson’s universe
- How style and substance clash—or coalesce—in Anderson’s boxy, meticulously designed world
- A heated debate: Team Fun vs. Team Theme
Whether you're a die-hard Wes Anderson fan or new to his world of symmetrical whimsy and pastel melancholy, this conversation offers sharp insights, deep cultural critique, and plenty of laughs.
📌 Listen now and decide: is The Phoenician Scheme clever cinema—or just clever-looking?