Amsterdam is David O. Russell's new movie. With Christian Bale, Margo Robbie, John David Washington, Robert De Niro, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zoe Saldana, Rami Malek, Andrea Riseborough and many other stars in the cast (and a sly appearance by Taylor Swift), one might say the cast is as over-stuffed as the plot.
Christian Bale says that he and Russell have been talking about this project for over ten years and he has seen over a dozen of Russell’s draft scripts for it. Dr. Mark Kermode thinks that at least three of them are crammed into the final effort. Let me say upfront that I do not mind.
It could certainly be described as a period rom-com political-thriller caper, built on the (apparently real) plot led by a cabal of millionaire American businessmen to depose President F.D. Roosevelt from the White House in 1933 and install a fascist regime. This was to be fronted by a WWI military hero, General Smedley Butler and Butler appeared to go along with the scheme, but only in order to discover its details and report them to the FBI. No court cases followed. Well, they wouldn’t, would they?
Amsterdam is beautifully lit, designed and costumed. So it should be: shot by Emmanuel Lubezki who has often collaborated with Terrence Malik and Alejandro Iñárritu; designed by Judy Becker (as were Russell’s last three movies along with the immaculate Carol and Battle of the Sexes); costumed by the veteran Albert Wolsky plus J. R. Hawbaker from American Hustle. Amsterdam was edited by Jay Cassidy (as with American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook) with music from Daniel Pemberton (Trial of the Chicago 7). I think they all add immensely to the richness of this movie. And it is a rich and tasty stew.
Of course the actors are terrific, especially the leading trio. Christian Bale is obviously having enormous fun, and that is so good to see. John David Washington has found the gift of stillness - or inherited it from his father, and Margo Robbie is simply wonderful. I am also delighted to see Andrea Riseborough being given a role that suits her considerable talents - and yes, that means I do think she has accepted some unfortunate ones. Russell has his own distinctive way of making a movie which some actors relish but others struggle with. In some ways (only some) he follows Mike Leigh’s character development process. Not all actors can cope with that, and the fact that Bale and De Niro keep coming back for more tells its own story.
I have enjoyed Russell’s movies ever since 1999’s Three Kings, especially Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, and I enjoyed Amsterdam a lot. It seems that some find it confusing or confused, but I say sit back and enjoy the ride.
