"Annoyingly precious," say Wes Anderson detractors who hate his intricate and elitist cinema dioramas that lack the common touch. Maybe. But this one takes us past the pastel color palettes that windmill in his mind to find the ache that feels human

The Phoenician Scheme is very agreeable and charming.

Is there a future where I revisit Phoenician and find it significantly funnier and more profound (as was the case with Grand Budapest)? Yes, but unlike Korda’s redemption arc, mine isn’t imminent.

Evokes The Royal Tenenbaums...