Quartile rating: 8.5/10 · 2 ratings
In the 1930s, three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney—witness a murder, become suspects themselves and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
Amsterdam is a sprawling, ambitious ensemble piece from David O. Russell that tackles the real-life Business Plot conspiracy with a quirky, stylized sensibility. The plot is overly convoluted and struggles to balance its comedic tone with its serious historical subject, resulting in a narrative that meanders and frustrates more than it engages. The acting is solid given the star-studded cast (Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington), though many performers feel underutilized or constrained by the script's erratic pacing. Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki has moments of visual flair and period-appropriate warmth, but is unremarkable overall. The film's offbeat blend of screwball comedy and political thriller offers some novelty in concept, though the execution muddles the distinctiveness. The ending, meant to land with historical gravitas, feels rushed and unsatisfying, failing to bring the tangled threads together cohesively.