The man was on his way to work on a well supplying water to homes when he was killed in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the agency said. Lebanon’s Health Ministry also reported one person killed in the strike.
A vivid presence despite her dry-as-dust tone, Threapleton makes a splendid Andersonian debut here as half the father-daughter duo, along with Benicio Del Toro, that drivesTheir emerging relationship is what stands out amid the familiar Andersonian details: the picture-book aesthetic. The meticulous production design (down to those fascinating closing credits). The chapter cards. The “who’s who” of Hollywood cameos. And most of all the intricate — nay, elaborate; nay, labyrinthine — plot.
This image released by Focus Features shows Michael Cera, left, and Mia Threapleton in a scene from “The Phoenician Scheme.” (TPS Productions/Focus Features via AP)This image released by Focus Features shows Michael Cera, left, and Mia Threapleton in a scene from “The Phoenician Scheme.” (TPS Productions/Focus Features via AP)Indeed, Anderson seems to be leaning into some of these characteristics here, giving the impression of becoming even more, well, Wes Anderson than before. He will likely delight his most ardent fans but perhaps lose a few others with the plot, which becomes a bit exhausting to follow as we reach the midpoint of this tale.
But what is the Phoenician scheme, anyway?It’s a sweeping, ambitious, somewhat corrupt dream of one Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda (Del Toro), one of the richest industrialists in Europe, to exploit a vast region of the world. We begin in 1950, with yet another assassination attempt on Korda’s life — his sixth plane crash, to be exact, which occurs as he sits smoking a cigar and reading about botany.
Suddenly, in a hugely entertaining pre-credits sequence, Korda’s in the cockpit, ejecting his useless pilot and directing his own rescue, asking ground control whether he should crash into a corn or soybean field. The media mourns his passing — and then he turns up, one eye mangled, biting into a husk of corn. As usual, reports of his death have been … you know.
This image released by Focus Features shows, from left, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton in a scene from “The Phoenician Scheme.” (TPS Productions/Focus Features via AP)And while he is reluctant to talk politics, Shem Tov worries Israel’s
puts the remaining hostages in danger.“Every soldier for me is a hero,” he said. “But there is a big but. For me and the hostages, it’s difficult for us while the army is in the area. Places near us are being bombed. I support the army but we have to get them out.”
“If you keep on going with the military pressure, there is a big chance they will be killed.”CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange Friday, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians in the first phase of an exchange that