REVIEW: AMSTERDAM

3.5/5

War Bonds.

134 Mins. Starring: 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. Director: David O. Russell. 

Preceded by a reputation as a taskmaster (and much more nefarious behaviour) director David O. Russell goes to war for his work. The results from the trenches are the Academy big-three of 'The Fighter', 'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'American Hustle'. But in Russell's first movie since Jennifer Lawrence's 'Joy', he gives us another in Christian Bale ('The Fighter' and 'American Hustle') and the dynamite director's first-timers Margot Robbie and John David Washington, oozing charm and the fiz bang of charismatic chemistry. Not to mention an epic ensemble of a supporting cast that reads like an Oscars envelope...for every category. All for 'Amsterdam' like bicycles and the haze of familiar smelling streets. Damn the trenches these actors have to go through. Once more unto the breach, dear. 

Period based on the Business Plot of the 1933 political conspiracy in the United States, this muddled mess is a lot to get your head 'round. But Russell should be credited for always trying to get to the truth of the heart of matters. Not just his subjects, but the implications of the wide world around them. And it doesn't get much bigger for this, which on paper looks like his magnum opus, but may get the February award season snub down the timeless traditions of 'Nightmare Alley'. But the auteur director does bring a prestige picture to the proceedings. It's just that everything pales in backdrop comparison to the beautiful three-way (steady) friendship between Bale, Robbie and Washington. The ever chameleonic Christian ('The Machinist', 'Vice') has lost ('Fighter') and gained ('Hustle') weight again for Russell and has even given us more colours to his artistic palette in black and white for a Marvel movie this year (playing a God butcher in 'Thor-Love and Thunder') as Batman begins again. But here with bales of talent, Einstein hair, yesterday's suit and a glass eye, he redefines himself, once more. But when he joins in a chorus pact with Robbie (the Aussie a true Hollywood throwback before her own 'La La Land' this fall in 'Babylon') and best friend Washington (making his own family name like Dad Denzel) that's when they really sing. Perfectly peculiarly so. 

Amsterdam is big enough for more than the three of them, though, like the latest season of 'Atlanta'. Chris Rock is in the house with some amazing acting to go with some trademark, period stand-up. Even if Bale played the "a##hole card" and didn't talk to his comedy hero, getting into character, like this stand-up talent doesn't a certain Prince right now (everybody may have seemed to hate him, but we hope they can work it out) and we aren't taking about the late great purple one. You should have seen my date's face each time another famous one was added to the mix. The gambit of getting the 'Last Night In Soho' Queen Anya Taylor-Joy into this, showcasing the traditions of these times like she did in 'Peaky Blinders'. The rhapsody of Rami Malek bonded by her Bohemian side. And the same song, so on. 

Perfect partnerships also come from two Michaels in an odd-couple, American and British intelligence agents bonded by this war and bird-watching. Mike Myers (no, not that one, this Halloween, Baby Driver, but the "groovy baby" one) and Michael Shannon steal the show. Matthias Schoenaerts and Alessandro Nivola cop some serious detective work off desk duty and on the case here, like Shea Whigham and Bill Camp in 'The Joker'. But before the 'Avatar' sequel that made her a blue and 'Guardians' green Goddess, Zoe Saldaña gives us her subtly best calendar of work in years ('The Adam Project'). And these 'Midnights' you'll see an even different shade of superstar singer Taylor Swift in a performance that will have the world's most famous singer (let alone the hardest working) flooring you. Add one of the most underrated and undeniable talents in recent years (Andrea Riseborough) and an unrecognizable, but also undeniable Timothy Olyphant (for a minute there, I lost myself thinking he was Anson Mount or someone like that) and all you need to complete this cast is the great De Niro himself. Who has showed up in so many of Russell's projects, his bull probably raged through the ring of 'The Fighter'. 

A doctor, nurse and a lawyer walk into a (coffee) bar in 'Amsterdam'. This may sound like a joke and at times this deep dramatic and comedic take on history will leave you feeling like you've smoked something, but it still huffs and puffs...even if it doesn't blow your house completely down, piggy. A love letter to the front. On call-sheet paper, this billboard reads like the brightest lights in the biggest city. But with a little less pedalling and a more straightforward canal path through this plot, 'Amsterdam' could have stamped the Academy in its passport of Hollywood homes. Amsterdamnation. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'American Hustle', 'Nightmare Alley', 'The Monuments Men'.