Amsterdam

2 out of 5 stars

David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) is one of those directors who A-list actors prefer to work with in filmmaking. Despite reported abuse issues throughout his career, some of Hollywood’s top talent keep returning for more. Amsterdam brings Christian Bale and Robert DeNiro back to the Russell production along with Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Mike Myers, and even Taylor Swift. Yet, can this bizarre comedy-mystery-political parody set in the 1930s sustain the weight of so much talent.

Burt Berendsen (Bale) is a doctor who works in New York City in 1933 who’s practice focuses on helping veterans from The Great War. Between finding skin grafts, artificial limbs, and experimental drugs to aid his patients, he does side work to make ends meet. His friend and lawyer, Harold Woodsman (Washington), calls for the doctor to come and perform an autopsy on US Senator Bill Meekins, who was thought to have been murdered. The pair was hired by the Senator's daughter, Elizabeth Meekins (Swift), to investigate her father’s suspicious death. Until she is killed and both men are suspected of these two potential murders.

This partnership needs some backstory to explain how an African-American lawyer and a white doctor with an artificial eye and extensive scars could be close friends in 1933. Audiences are taken back to when they met and formed a comradeship during the war, which was galvanised by their shared recovery time in a military hospital. This is where they were introduced to Valerie (Margot Robbie). The nurse helped them back to health and assisted them in getting acclimated to living by introducing them to her life in Amsterdam. Her bohemian lifestyle and connections with military intelligence would help them to form a bond that would eventually lead to them unearthing the plot behind the murder of the Senator in 1933.

David O. Russell says that the screenplay was based on ​​the political conspiracy, The Business Plot. This historical event was meant to overthrow the government of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and instal a dictator. Yet, none of this is evident until the final act, and this less-than-subtle political statement does not seem to know what it is meant to do from the outset. Admittedly, the celebrated writer/director’s films can be labelled off-beat to the point of being ludicrous. Still, this production fails to have any structure or qualities that would make people want to care about any of the characters or follow the plot.

Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington commit to their roles and convey a belief in what is unfolding, but it is not enough to save the on-screen mayhem. Admittedly, there are a few redeeming moments or characters within the film, like the comical pairing of Mike Myers and Michael Shannon as the unsuspecting intelligence agents and bird watchers. Anya Taylor-Joy and Rami Malek seem to be relishing every moment they have on-screen. Yet, none of these aspects are enough to salvage the unfolding debacle. Especially poor Taylor Swift and Chris Rock who seem to be brought in from other movies and added in for name recognition only.

After enduring all 134 minutes, audiences will most likely walk away bewildered and wondering how so much talent could go to waste. Amsterdam’s storyline seems to be influenced by some of the experimental drugs from Dr Berendsen’s clinic. One of the acute side effects of these narcotics was the patient passing out, which is something this film does as it falls over on itself again and again.

REEL DIALOGUE: Irrevocable bonds

Loyalty is fascinating and confusing, defined as being faithful to something or someone. People will put their money, careers, and lives on the line for devotion to family, friends, or countries. In Amsterdam, the three central characters do all they can to commit to the pact they made in the Dutch city. It begs the question, why do we choose to be loyal or faithful to someone else?

This query seems rooted in wanting to place implicit trust in the person we put our faith in and knowing that this loyalty will be reciprocated. The Bible plies a deeper meaning to the idea of loyalty. What can be seen is that God is the only one completely faithful. He is faithful even when his followers are faithless. The thing to consider is that with mankind, loyalty can be fleeting, but with God, we can find absolute loyalty and someone true to their word.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13