Justin Chang

takes place in the same decade, but it's a chillier, more globetrotting affair. It follows an obscenely wealthy businessman named Anatole Zsa Zsa Korda, played by an excellent Benicio del Toro. Korda is the latest of Anderson's dashing scoundrels, the titan of industry as international man of mystery.

He travels the world in private jets, making money, deals, and enemies at every turn, and destabilizing governments and exploiting local workers along the way. Now Korda wants to establish a lasting legacy. He plans to develop a massive infrastructure project in a place called Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia. To pull this off, Korda decides to reconcile with his estranged daughter Liesel.

He travels the world in private jets, making money, deals, and enemies at every turn, and destabilizing governments and exploiting local workers along the way. Now Korda wants to establish a lasting legacy. He plans to develop a massive infrastructure project in a place called Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia. To pull this off, Korda decides to reconcile with his estranged daughter Liesel.

He travels the world in private jets, making money, deals, and enemies at every turn, and destabilizing governments and exploiting local workers along the way. Now Korda wants to establish a lasting legacy. He plans to develop a massive infrastructure project in a place called Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia. To pull this off, Korda decides to reconcile with his estranged daughter Liesel.

She's the oldest of his ten children. and make her his heir and partner. Liesel, played by a terrific Mia Threpleton, isn't sure she wants any part of it. Dumped in a convent when she was five, she's now a novitiate, and she scorns her father's dishonest business practices. Also, there's a rumor going around that, years ago, Korda killed Liesel's mother.

She's the oldest of his ten children. and make her his heir and partner. Liesel, played by a terrific Mia Threpleton, isn't sure she wants any part of it. Dumped in a convent when she was five, she's now a novitiate, and she scorns her father's dishonest business practices. Also, there's a rumor going around that, years ago, Korda killed Liesel's mother.

She's the oldest of his ten children. and make her his heir and partner. Liesel, played by a terrific Mia Threpleton, isn't sure she wants any part of it. Dumped in a convent when she was five, she's now a novitiate, and she scorns her father's dishonest business practices. Also, there's a rumor going around that, years ago, Korda killed Liesel's mother.

Murderer or not, Corda fits snugly into Anderson's ever-expanding gallery of bad dads, from Royal Tenenbaum to Steve Zissou. The Phoenician scheme is a reconciliation story, and so Liesel reluctantly goes along with Corda's harebrained plan, hoping she can do some good along the way. but it won't be easy.

Murderer or not, Corda fits snugly into Anderson's ever-expanding gallery of bad dads, from Royal Tenenbaum to Steve Zissou. The Phoenician scheme is a reconciliation story, and so Liesel reluctantly goes along with Corda's harebrained plan, hoping she can do some good along the way. but it won't be easy.

Murderer or not, Corda fits snugly into Anderson's ever-expanding gallery of bad dads, from Royal Tenenbaum to Steve Zissou. The Phoenician scheme is a reconciliation story, and so Liesel reluctantly goes along with Corda's harebrained plan, hoping she can do some good along the way. but it won't be easy.

In this scene, aboard Corda's jet, Liesel gets some insight into her father and his grandiose view of himself. We're starting our descent.

In this scene, aboard Corda's jet, Liesel gets some insight into her father and his grandiose view of himself. We're starting our descent.

In this scene, aboard Corda's jet, Liesel gets some insight into her father and his grandiose view of himself. We're starting our descent.

I don't need my human rights. Much of the busy, preposterous plot follows Corda as he tries to get various business associates and family members to help finance his scheme. Anderson, who wrote the script with Roman Coppola, keeps updating us on how much each character has invested. At times, the Phoenician scheme feels perilously close to math homework.

I don't need my human rights. Much of the busy, preposterous plot follows Corda as he tries to get various business associates and family members to help finance his scheme. Anderson, who wrote the script with Roman Coppola, keeps updating us on how much each character has invested. At times, the Phoenician scheme feels perilously close to math homework.

I don't need my human rights. Much of the busy, preposterous plot follows Corda as he tries to get various business associates and family members to help finance his scheme. Anderson, who wrote the script with Roman Coppola, keeps updating us on how much each character has invested. At times, the Phoenician scheme feels perilously close to math homework.

It's not too hard to follow, though, especially compared with the more densely layered Asteroid City. The infrastructure deal is basically an excuse for the director to squeeze in as many of his favorite actors as possible. Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston play a pair of basketball-loving businessmen. Mathieu Amalric turns up as a nightclub owner, Jeffrey Wright as a sea captain.

It's not too hard to follow, though, especially compared with the more densely layered Asteroid City. The infrastructure deal is basically an excuse for the director to squeeze in as many of his favorite actors as possible. Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston play a pair of basketball-loving businessmen. Mathieu Amalric turns up as a nightclub owner, Jeffrey Wright as a sea captain.

It's not too hard to follow, though, especially compared with the more densely layered Asteroid City. The infrastructure deal is basically an excuse for the director to squeeze in as many of his favorite actors as possible. Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston play a pair of basketball-loving businessmen. Mathieu Amalric turns up as a nightclub owner, Jeffrey Wright as a sea captain.

And there are other Anderson alums in the mix, too, like Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, and Hope Davis. The first-timers, though, make the strongest impressions. Riz Ahmed plays an endearing Phoenician prince, and Michael Cera is delightful as a nerdy Norwegian entomologist named Bjorn. The most moving performance comes from Threpleton.