Amsterdam
2022
***
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zoe Saldaña, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Timothy Olyphant, Andrea Riseborough, Taylor Swift, Matthias Schoenaerts, Alessandro Nivola, Rami Malek, Robert De Niro
A doctor, a lawyer, and a nurse, who became good friends in World War 1, reunite 15 years later in New York City, where they attempt to figure out the conspiracy behind the murder of a retired general. David O. Russell's films are sometimes difficult to slot into a pre-defined category. This sympathetic but long and uneven period piece is a mix of slapstick comedy, war drama, and political thriller. This haphazard approach means that the end result is fresh, unpredictable, and tonally all over the place. The screenplay is partly inspired by a real-life conspiracy in 1933. The cast is amazing, and Christian Bale gives an unusually goofy and relaxed performance as Dr. Burt Berendsen.
