By: Kimberly Grant
There comes a time in every movie buff’s life when they find themselves wanting to see a movie purely for the talented actors. Everyone has their favorite actor or actress who always lights up the screen whenever they are in a film. Or perhaps they are in love with the great works the actor/actress commits off-screen. And, then there’s Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is opening nationwide on October 7.
Storied Plots
Amsterdam, written and directed by the talented David O. Russell is about three unlikely friends who met in Amsterdam and are trying to solve a murder. On their journey, they find themselves accused of a second murder. This takes our friends all around 1930s New York as they solve both murders and try not to get killed in the process.
The draw of the movie is the main cast which includes Christian Bale as Bert, John David Washington as Harold, and Margot Robbie as Valerie. These friends come from different worlds, yet find a happy medium together. If murder is the main plot, then their friendship is definitely the subplot. And, the negative race relations of the time period are the sub-subplot. The racism is shown, but doesn’t overshadow the film.
Not Quite There
The talented actors mentioned above aren’t the only great artists in Amsterdam. Chris Rock plays Harold’s fellow lawyer, Milton. Mike Myers is almost unrecognizable as Paul, a naturist. Zoe Saldana is demure as Irma, an autopsy nurse. Michael Shannon, who is really good at being weird, plays Henry. And, Robert De Niro plays type as a decorated war general, named Gil.
The talent in this film is immense as you can see. Each actor (and those not named) have a tremendous on-screen presence in their own right. It would stand to reason that this large gathering of notable actors being directed by a darling independent filmmaker would make a great film. Award-worthy, even. Alas, that is not the case.
What Had Happened Was….
It’s understandable that Russell was attempting to write and direct a zany story about love … and murder…and racism in the 1930s. Had Russell stuck with the basis above, Amsterdam would have had a fighting chance to be something great. The talent is there. The writing is somewhat there, too.
In fact, the characters speak in prose at times. Prose that sounds beautifully thought-provoking. A great line from the film is when one character tells another: “Love is choosing someone, not needing them for something.” Beautiful.
Not to so much the gory and disgusting visuals that accompany the beautiful words. (Think: Open chest cavity of a dead person.)
Victim of His Own Craft
Being an independent filmmaker at his core, Russell is attempting to make a star-studded movie that’s different from a typical historical drama. But he goes too far in trying to be different. There are elements of the film that are just downright disgusting. Elements of the plot that don’t feel fleshed out enough to be a decent storyline. And, there’s an intense creepy factor that makes me wonder if Russell is well.
For that matter, I’m also wondering if Margot Robbie is well. I won’t give you all the gory details because I’m not in the habit of trying to make my readers want to upchuck. Let’s just say, if you’re planning to watch Amsterdam don’t pay the extra for popcorn and soda.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Amsterdam, while bursting with top-of-the-line actors, is strange. It’s trippy. For a few moments during the film, I thought I was on a hallucinogen, because of the weirdness of the story and the characters. The film is heavily stylized and not in a good way. In fact, Amsterdam would have been better as a play; minus the open chest cavity.
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