In Which we talk about the Wesley's Scheme: Budapest was an Accident

Good morning, my friend, and happy Friday! The weekend is upon us, that is lovely isn't it? I am so sleepy today, and I hate this feeling, I feel all my body heavy, specially my eyes, I guess I'll have to call it a day for any productive or fun project and sleep. It just really cause me frustration that when I sleep, as I wake up, I am as sleepy as before. It destroys me! It never ends. Ah, anyway, how are you? How are things? The weather here has been endurable, that is good, even if it could be a bit cooler if you ask me, we are in winter after all. A bit weird weather for me to try a new ice cream parlor, but that is precisely what I did, more on that, and on the movie I went to see, as follows, as I did come out, and I think the experience was a net positive at the end of the day.

I went out yesterday, on my own! For the first time in some years. The occasion was to watch the new Wes Anderson movie, The Phoenician Scheme. Wes is a director I used to love, and I still see value in at least part of what he does, and so, I was very curious to check it out. Well, the movie is a hit or miss, more on that in a moment, but the going out part was so fun, like, I went to this lovely ice cream parlor next to the movie theater, one of the best ice cream I had in a while, so good! It did not weight on my stomach at all, even. I was very worried, and of course I only got a bit of the ice cream, the flavors I chose were oreo and Chocolate Milk, and yes, it was excellent stuff. Next time I go, I'm gonna purchase their merch, I am a fan. The balconist was so kind as well, she walked me through the shop, it was a blast. I went for the movie, and as a bonus I got a treat and a great experience, that is a win! Anyway, now I would love to give some thoughts on that Phoenician Scheme thing, that I am going to call the Wesley's Scheme, I am sure part of the budget was used to buy off the critics, more on that as follows:

As I mentioned, I went to watch the new movie by sir Wes Anderson yesterday, The Phoenician Scheme, and I was right to think it would be a very aesthetic yet underwhelming experience. I describe it as a beautiful cake, but a beautiful cake made out of foam. While outside is a nice visual feast, with the excellent costume design done by Milena Canonero, which is a tremendously competent professional on that field. Beautiful colors, great set designs. A beautiful bride ready for its day of marriage. There won't be one, though, the bride in question is a mannequin on display at a bride's shop. As it lacks depth in emotional reasonance, its dialogues and framing can very well and accurately been seen as cynical, sarcastic, a movie not sharing the same space with its audience, but mocking it. That tone hurts the whole edifice, that goes as far as nearly collapsing, because you can never tell if the movie is being respectful or doing a mockery. There is a lot of baroque in this piece, with the angels, heaven and even God makes an appearance. One nun is one of the protagonists. It does try to pay some respects to catholicism, but it does that in a very odd, poorlh designed way, as to come out as borderline blasphemous for many. I am in an awkward position when it comes to that, I would not go that far as pointing it to be disrespectful to Lotd Thy God, the creator, but even I found it a bit out of place to have the religious themes. It does open an avenue of scrutiny completely unnecessary, hurting the whole venture, but truth is, the venture was never there to begin with, it is a nicely dressed mannequin. And it is pretentious, self reverential and self serving, playing more on the strings of the professional critics than the actual paying public. I can only assume either the critics received some good brines from the production and marketing departments, or they are just about safe disruption, comfortable trial and error, a secure bet, as it did got a standing ovation at the Cannnes Movie Festival. No one needs to be attached to any other public, but when it comes to the specialized critics, they are not doing their credibilitu any favors by supporting this piece so vividly. The visuals are stunning, but there is very little else to go with it. 

One good thing about the movie, and that is where my score of 7/10 comes to play, is Michael Cera. He was the best thing on the whole picture, I think. They gave him a good premise for a character and he portray whom he did outstandingly. He did not come as ironic or mocking the audience, instead I do find he was a great soften presence in the movie, a touch of sincerity and awkward kindness. I wish they could give that man a best supporting role Oscar for this role. Most likely it won't be the case, and the Oscar, for me, has lost its credibility entirely, and specially due to their ridiculous moves the last few ones. It is the a-pop-calypse after all. 

So, this should be it for today's post, I am happy with what was written! I think I did convey most of what this movie was about and why it sort of sucked, even if it had some value in it, too, somehow. I hope to return here real soon, as always, and specially because my blog will be 7 years old in just 2 days!! That is sort of insane! We will see how we'll mark the occasion. Until then, farewell, wish you the best!