Amsterdam

This is an article ‘Amsterdam’ by Marc Primo

Release date: 07 October 2022

Director: David O. Russell

Language: English

Production companies: Regency Enterprises, New Regency, DreamCrew, Keep Your Head, Corazon Hayagriva

Producers: Arnon Milchan, Matthew Budman, Anthony Katagas, David O. Russell, Christian Bale

Spoiler alert: Time and again, it has been proven that a stellar ensemble does not constitute a blockbuster. However, before you shoot down David O. Russell's (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter) crime caper Amsterdam, you may want to consider some of its high points first. Aside from being one of the most star-studded movies this year, the film promises a 'whodunnit' joyride set in the romantic yet mysterious vibe of the early 1930s. Somehow, the opening disclaimer that 'most of the things audiences will see actually happened' might not be enough to convince, and there are quite a number of them you'd wish hadn’t.

Amsterdam explodes on screen like a fast-paced, eccentric, endearing, and original mystery tale reminiscent of the recent success of Knives Out (2019), twinned with a hint of that classic Sherlock Holmes feel. As practically every face in this film is another A-lister making an entertaining cameo, the list of actors and celebrities keeps growing as the story unfolds.

Bright stars eclipsed

The film is set during the ‘30s and is a period mystery-slash-comedy that centers on three friends. The complication starts when Burt and Harold witness a murder and immediately become suspects. Reconnecting with Valerie, the two go into deeper rabbit holes that convey a wild scheme that concerns war veterans and corrupt business moguls. However, Amsterdam's story might not be why you should see it in theaters as much as its all-star cast led by a notoriously aggressive director.

The first surprise intended for audiences is Taylor Swift's cameo, the delight of which ephemerally ends as we see the music icon being run over by a truck. For sure, audiences would be eager to discover what would happen next, yet only to be foiled by an abrupt narrative swerve into a tedious flashback that added little to the plot. When the narrative careens carelessly back to its original storyline, most will find that the risk and urgency in act one has been replaced with a disjointed collection of confusing dialogues and scenes that linger far longer than necessary.

Of course, it goes without mentioning that there's no shortage of star power, with Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington taking the lead roles of Dr. Burt Berendsen, Nurse Valerie Voze, and Soldier Harold Woodsman, respectively. The trio of outcasts live together in Amsterdam after the war and enter into a pact that will be tested years later due to the sudden death of the boys' war mentor and US Senator Bill Meekins, played by Ed Begley Jr.

If that's not enough firepower, Robert De Niro joins the cast as General Gil Dillenbeck, Chris Rock as veteran soldier Milton King, Rami Malek as Valerie's brother Tom Voze, Zoe Saldana as medical examiner Irma St. Clair, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Tom's socialite wife, Libby.

With a cast of A+-list actors, it's undoubtedly challenging for any writer or director to highlight each one's shining star, which is precisely what happens throughout the second act down to its conclusion.

Sudden breaks and mishaps

Before picking up in the last act, the pace slows down for about an hour. Still, Amsterdam has its own magic aside from flawless casting. With outstanding work from Nana Fisher's (Ad Astra, World War Z, Hanna) makeup and Emmanuel Lubeski's (The Revenant, Birdman) cinematography, the film is undoubtedly award-worthy. However, while many of the scenes are beautifully shot and executed in post-production, the storytelling seems to be all over the place; so much so that audiences might either get lost or lose interest altogether.

The plot becomes so complicated early in the film that everything on screen after the strong first act quickly eludes or alienates some viewers. But it's not just that the film is not for everybody. Certain flaws are apparent in both technical and strategic aspects, such as how big-name stars like Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, and Taylor Swift were underused or how flashbacks seemed to obfuscate rather than weave the entire plot.

Amsterdam has so much potential but fails miserably in its efforts to stand out without losing its realism. The oddball bird-watching government spies played by Michael Shannon and Mike Myers were, perhaps, the movie's finest feature in terms of interesting supporting characters. The attempt at humor was effective with the two, but when Russell seemed to place the ticklers anywhere else, they felt a bit too forced.

Despite being a comedy, Russell's dialogue falls short of its intended humor and snappiness. All the slapstick, banter, and lighthearted quips miss terribly and fail to bring out even a little chuckle. If anything, the entire experience of Amsterdam can be categorized as dull and monotonous. Think of it as a museum of great paintings from all over the world without proper sorting, so it ends up being an incoherent house of wayward colors.

Rewriting history

Amsterdam doesn't live up to its thrilling teaser trailer. The excessive amount of dialogue and complications make its weak points apparent in terms of telling a coherent story in just 143 minutes. Despite having its stars and impeccable production and visual values, the film tends to focus excessively on contemporary issues in historical contexts, almost to the exclusion of the most horrific issues that existed at the time. Perhaps, Russell can now acknowledge that rewriting history isn't always a surefire win.

The cast of heavy hitters strike viewers with connecting combinations, only for them to engage in disappointingly scarce dialogue. Worse, many lines lack feeling and aren't enough to leave a mark. Due to the lack of material given to the actors, they are left to their own devices to build compelling characters. What happens is that everyone is carelessly inserted into a weirdly uninteresting mystery thriller that barely makes use of an intriguing premise. The idea of a motley crew trying to clear their identities is amusing, but the execution lacks fun and fulfillment.

Audiences would expect that for a star-studded cast, everyone will at least have one breakout or memorable scene. The actors don't have the slightest chemistry with one another, and there are no outstanding performances whatsoever, except perhaps from Bale. The big question is whether well-executed shots can still save an uninspired, unoriginal movie with little to offer.

Sadly, the answer is no.