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{{Short description|Period mystery2022 film by David O. Russell}}
{{About|the 2022 film|the 2013 comedy-drama film|Amsterdam (2013 film)||}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Amsterdam (2022)
| image = Amsterdam (2022 film).jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
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* Corazon Camera
}}
| distributor = [[20th Century Studios]] (United States)<br>[[Buena Vista International]] (International)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.cinesargentinos.com.ar/pelicula/8891-amsterdam/ | title=Amsterdam }}</ref>
| released = {{Film date|2022|9|18|[[Alice Tully Hall]]|2022|10|7|United States}}
| runtime = 134 minutes
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}}
 
'''''Amsterdam''''' is a 2022 [[Historical film|period]] [[Mystery film|mystery]] [[comedy thriller]] film directed, written, and produced by [[David O. Russell]] and starring [[Christian Bale]] (who also produced), [[Margot Robbie]], and [[John David Washington]] alongside an [[ensemble cast|ensemble supporting cast]] including [[Chris Rock]], [[Anya Taylor-Joy]], [[Zoe Saldaña]], [[Mike Myers]], [[Michael Shannon]], [[Timothy Olyphant]], [[Andrea Riseborough]], [[Taylor Swift]], [[Matthias Schoenaerts]], [[Alessandro Nivola]], [[Rami Malek]], and [[Robert De Niro]]. The story is based on the [[Business Plot]], a 1933 [[political conspiracy]] in the United States, and follows three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and a lawyer—who reunite and seek to uncover the act following the mysterious murder of a retired U.S. general.
 
Filmed in [[Los Angeles]] from January to March 2021, it is Russell's first film since ''[[Joy (2015 film)|Joy]]'' (2015). ''Amsterdam'' premiered at the [[Alice Tully Hall]] on September 18, 2022, and was released theatrically in the United States on October 7, 2022, by [[20th Century Studios]]. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who criticized Russell's screenplay and direction, foras itswell over-ambitionas andthe tonallack inconsistency,of butchemistry praisedbetween the production designRobbie and cast performancesWashington. It was also a [[box-office bomb]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=9 October 2022 |title=Box Office: 'Smile' Beats 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' as David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam' Flops |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/box-office-amsterdam-flops-smile-beats-lyle-lyle-crocodile-1235397224/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |location=New York City |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=810134503 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=31 March 2023}}</ref> with estimated losses for the studio of over $100 million.
 
==Plot==
==Plot==<!--Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions.-->
In 1918, Burt Berendsen was sent by his estranged wife's parents to fight in [[World War I]]. While stationed in [[French Third Republic|France]], Burt befriends African-American soldier Harold Woodman. After sustaining injuries in battle, Burt and Harold are nursed back to health by Valerie Bandenberg, an eccentric nurse who makes art out of shrapnel removed from the soldiers, whom they befriend as well. After the war, the three live together in [[Amsterdam]] until Burt returns to his wife and Harold leaves after ending a brief relationship with Valerie.▼
 
After the end of the war, the three live together in [[Amsterdam]] and become close friends until Burt returns to [[New York City]] to be with his wife. Harold has fallen in love with Valerie and begun a tenuous romantic relationship with her. But Valerie abandons Harold, so he returns to New York.
▲In 1918, Burt Berendsen was sent by his estranged wife's parents to fight in [[World War I]]. While stationed in [[French Third Republic|France]], Burt befriends African-American soldier Harold Woodman. After sustaining injuries in battle, Burt and Harold are nursed back to health by Valerie Bandenberg, an eccentric nurse who makes art out of shrapnel removed from the soldiers, whom they befriend as well. After the war, the three live together in [[Amsterdam]] until Burt returns to his wife and Harold leaves after ending a brief relationship with Valerie.
 
Fifteen years later, Burt has opened his medical practice catering to veterans of the war, and remains friends with Harold, who is now a lawyer. However, they have not heard from Valerie since they left Amsterdam. Harold asks Burt to perform an autopsy on Bill Meekins, their(a oldsenator who served as the commander, of their regiment during the war) at the behest of Meekins' daughter Elizabeth, who believes that he was murdered during his recent trip to Europe. Burt performs the autopsy with the help of medical examiner, Irma St. Clair. The autopsy reveals a considerable amount of poison in Meekins' stomach; Burt and Irma theorize that this must have been his cause of death. Burt and Harold meet with Elizabeth to talk about the autopsy results, though she is suddenly killed when a [[hitman]] pushes her into traffic. The hitman frames Burt and Harold are framed for her death, and they flee as the police arrive.
 
Burt and Harold attempt to find out who told Elizabeth to hire them in order to clear their names. This leads them to wealthy textile heir, Tom Voze, his patronizing wife Libby, and Tom’sTom's sister, Valerie (whose real surname is Voze). They learn that Valerie was the one who convinced Elizabeth to hire them, knowing that they were trustworthy. Valerie is under constant supervision by Tom and Libby, who claim that she suffers from a nerve disease and epilepsy. It is later revealed that they were poisoning Valerie to keep her compliant. Burt and Harold talk with Tom, who suggests they talk to General Gil Dillenbeck, a famous and decorated veteran, andwho is friends with Meekins, to learn who accompanied Meekins on the trip (and might have poisoned him or be able to lead them to the person who did).
 
While Burt attempts to contact the General, Irma visits him at his medical practice and reveals that she was attacked and her wrist broken while trying to bring him the autopsy report and the attacker took the paper from her. After resetting her wrist, Burt and Irma share a kiss. Meanwhile, Harold and Valerie spend the day at her home, where they notice the hitman, Tarim Milfax, has been watching the house. They follow him to a [[forced sterilization]] [[clinic]] owned by a mysterious organization known as the "Committee of the Five". After a fight with Milfax, Harold and Valerie reunite with Burt. Valerie takes them to the [[Waldorf Astoria New York]], where they meet Paul Canterbury and Henry Norcross, Valerie's benefactors from Amsterdam who are secretly spies in the intelligence community. Paul and Henry explain that the Committee of the Five is a [[cabal]] in the US with ties to Germany planning to overthrow the American government and that Dillenbeck can help foil their plot.
 
The trio meetmeets with U.S. General Dillenbeck, who is offered a large sum of money from a man on behalf of an unnamed benefactor to deliver a speech advocating for veterans to forcibly remove U.S. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and install Dillenbeck as a puppet [[dictator]] instead. The General agrees to help the trio foil the plot and theyagrees allto planspeak at a veterans reunion gala Burt and Harold are hosting in order to draw out whoever is behind the plot.

At the gala, after General Dillenbeck reads his speech instead of the one he was paid to read,. Milfax attemptstries to shoot him for doing so, but Harold and Valerie and then Burt manage to stop him in time. Milfax is arrested and the Committee of the Five is revealed to be four industry leaders, including Tom, who is fanatically obsessed with [[Benito Mussolini]] and [[Adolf Hitler]], and intend to turn the United States into a [[Fascism|fascist country]].

Tom and the other leaders are arrested by the police, but they do not stay in jail long, and slander General Dillenbeck in the press following their release. General Dillenbeck testifies about the incident to [[United States Congress|Congress]], and returns home to live out his life. Harold and Valerie leave the country tosince they cannot be together, andin the United States. Burt planswishes them farewell, planning to reopen his medical practice and pursue a relationship with Irma.
 
==Cast==
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* [[Margot Robbie]] as Valerie Voze/Bandenberg, a nurse<ref name="RobbieCast">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/margot-robbi-christian-bale-david-o-russell-new-regency-film-1202857952/|title=Margot Robbie To Co-Star Opposite Christian Bale In David O. Russell New Regency Film|date=February 11, 2020|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=February 11, 2020|archive-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212174906/https://deadline.com/2020/02/margot-robbi-christian-bale-david-o-russell-new-regency-film-1202857952/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[John David Washington]] as Harold Woodman, a lawyer and war veteran<ref name="WashingtonCast">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/john-david-washington-david-o-russell-film-christian-bale-margot-robbie-new-regency-tenet-1234595019/|title=John David Washington Joins Christian Bale & Margot Robbie In David O Russell Film For New Regency|date=October 9, 2020|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010080924/https://deadline.com/2020/10/john-david-washington-david-o-russell-film-christian-bale-margot-robbie-new-regency-tenet-1234595019/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Alessandro Nivola]] as Det. Hiltz, a detective assigned to the murder case and GetwillerGetweiler's partner<ref name="EnsembleCast" />
* [[Andrea Riseborough]] as Beatrice Vandenheuvel, Burt's estranged wife<ref name="EnsembleCast" />
* [[Anya Taylor-Joy]] as Libby Voze, Valerie's sister-in-law and Tom's wife<ref name="EnsembleCast" />
* [[Chris Rock]] as Milton King, Burt and Harold's Army buddy<ref name="EnsembleCast" /><ref name="cinemablend/amsterdam-cast">{{cite web |last=Wiese |first=Jason |title=Amsterdam Cast: Where You've Seen The Actors Before |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/amsterdam-cast-where-youve-seen-the-actors-before |website=[[CinemaBlend]] |access-date=11 October 2022 |date=7 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="screenrant/amsterdam-cast">{{cite web |last=Abdulbaki |first=Mae |title=Amsterdam Cast & Character Guide |url=https://screenrant.com/amsterdam-movie-cast-character-guide/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=11 October 2022 |date=7 October 2022}}</ref>
* [[Matthias Schoenaerts]] as Det. Lem GetwillerGetweiler, a detective assigned to the murder case and Hiltz's partner<ref name="EnsembleCast" />
* [[Michael Shannon]] as Henry Norcross, US Naval Intelligence<ref name="EnsembleCast" /> and a manufacturer of glass eyes who is Canterbury's partner
* [[Mike Myers]] as Paul Canterbury, an [[MI6]] spy<ref name="EnsembleCast" /> and manufacturer of glass eyes
* [[Taylor Swift]] as Elizabeth Meekins, Bill's daughter, whose death results in both Berendsen and Woodman being framed<ref name="SwiftCast">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/taylor-swift-david-o-russell-1234961503/|title=Taylor Swift Set for David O. Russell Movie|date=June 1, 2021|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=June 1, 2021|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601204618/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/taylor-swift-david-o-russell-1234961503/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Timothy Olyphant]] as Tarim Milfax, a hitman<ref name="EnsembleCast" />
* [[Zoe Saldaña]] as Irma St. Clair,<ref name="MalekCast" /> a medical examiner and Burt's love interest
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==Production==
===Development and casting===
In January 2020, [[New Regency]] announced the development on an untitled film written and directed by [[David O. Russell]] and starring [[Christian Bale]], with filming expected to begin that April.<ref name="Announcement" /> In February, [[Margot Robbie]] and [[Michael B. Jordan]] were announced to star,<ref name="RobbieCast" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-b-jordan-joins-christian-bale-david-o-russell-drama-1278703|title=Michael B. Jordan Joins Margot Robbie in David O. Russell Drama (Exclusive)|date=February 12, 2020|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=February 12, 2020|archive-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212193116/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-b-jordan-joins-christian-bale-david-o-russell-drama-1278703|url-status=live}}</ref> but the latter dropped out before production began due to scheduling conflicts. [[Jennifer Lawrence]] was reportedly considered for Robbie's role, while [[Jamie Foxx]] was considered for Jordan's. In October, [[John David Washington]] was cast as Jordan's replacement.<ref name="WashingtonCast" /> The rest of the ensemble cast was revealed between January and June 2021.<ref name="EnsembleCast" /><ref name="SwiftCast" /> Much of the cast worked for scale, and Bale took less than his typical $5 million fee while Malek earned a six-figure salary.<ref name=Deadline-Losses/>
 
===Filming===
Filming was originally set to begin in March 20212020 in [[Boston]] on a $50 million budget, but was delayed because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="WashingtonCast" /> Filming was moved to [[Los Angeles, California]] after the cast did not want to travel to Boston amid the pandemic. [[Principal photography]] took place over 49 days between January and March 2021.<ref name="EnsembleCast" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Davis|first=Clayton|date=April 1, 2021|title='Promising Young Woman': Emerald Fennell, Margot Robbie, Josey McNamara on Oscars and if There's a #FennellCut|url=https://variety.com/2021/awards/awards/margot-robbie-emerald-fennell-josey-mcnamara-promising-young-woman-podcast-1234941060/|access-date=July 10, 2021|magazine=Variety}}</ref> The move from Boston to Los Angeles and COVID-19 precautions caused the film's final budget to balloon to $80 million.<ref name=Deadline-Losses/> Crew members included cinematographer [[Emmanuel Lubezki]] (his first feature film since 20152017),<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Emmanuel 'Chivo' Lubezki Set As DP On David O Russell's New Regency Pic With Christian Bale, Michael B. Jordan, Margot Robbie|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/emmanuel-chivo-lubezki-david-o-russell-film-new-regency-christian-bale-michael-b-jordan-margot-robbie-1202873535/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=January 20, 2021|date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129153925/https://deadline.com/2020/03/emmanuel-chivo-lubezki-david-o-russell-film-new-regency-christian-bale-michael-b-jordan-margot-robbie-1202873535/|url-status=live}}</ref> editor [[Jay Cassidy]], and score composer [[Hildur Guðnadóttir]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|title='Joker' Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir to Score David O. Russell's New Movie|url=https://collider.com/david-o-russell-new-movie-composer-hildur-guonadottir/|work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=January 20, 2021|date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128055043/https://collider.com/david-o-russell-new-movie-composer-hildur-guonadottir/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2022, at [[CinemaCon]], the film's title was revealed to be ''Amsterdam''.<ref name="deadline">{{Cite web |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |last2=D'Alessandro |first2=Anthony |date=April 27, 2022 |title=David O. Russell Movie Gets A Title And First-Look Photo – CinemaCon |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/david-o-russell-movie-gets-title-cinemacon-1235011068/ |access-date=April 27, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In August, it was revealed that Guðnadóttir had exited as composer, with [[Daniel Pemberton]] now replacing her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2022/08/06/daniel-pemberton-scoring-david-o-russells-amsterdam/|title=Daniel Pemberton Scoring David O. Russell's ''Amsterdam''|date=August 6, 2022|website=Film Music Reporter|access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref> According to Robbie, on the last day of filming, they kept production going after their filming permit ended, so the police had to call "wrap" on the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Christopherson |first=David |date=September 21, 2022 |title=Margot Robbie Claims the Police Were Forced to Shut Down Amsterdam Production |url=https://movieweb.com/margot-robbie-claims-the-police-were-forced-to-shut-down-amsterdam-production/ |access-date=September 22, 2022 |website=MovieWeb}}</ref><ref name="youtube=5vTDEj_bFh8">{{cite web |author1=[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]] |title=Margot Robbie Reveals Cops Shut Down David O. Russell's Amsterdam Shoot (Extended) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vTDEj_bFh8 |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=12 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
 
===Historical basis===
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===Critical response===
On the [[review aggregator]] website [[{{Rotten Tomatoes]], prose|32% of 255 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of |5.1/10. The site's critics 0|257|consensus reads: "=''Amsterdam'' has a bunch of big stars and a very busy plot, all of which amounts to painfully less than the sum of its dazzling parts."<|ref>{{Cite web =yes|titleaccess-date=AmsterdamMay (2022)3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409043154/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amsterdam_2022 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-date=OctoberApril 79, 2022 2024|accessurl-datestatus=February 14, 2023 live}}</ref> [[{{Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of prose|48 out of 100 based on |52 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<|ref name=":2">{{Cite web yes|titleaccess-date=AmsterdamMay 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312021137/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/amsterdam /|website=[[Metacritic]] |accessarchive-date=OctoberMarch 1112, 2022 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale, while those at [[PostTrak]] gave the film a 72% overall positive score.<ref name="opening" />
 
{{Multiple image
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}}
 
In positive reviews, Pete Hammond of ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' lauded the "complex" screenplay, "uniquely conceived" characters, cinematography, costume, production, and score.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=September 28, 2022|title='Amsterdam' Review: Christian Bale & All-Star Cast Light Up David O. Russell's Timely Blend Of Fact And Fiction |url=https://deadline.com/video/amsterdam-review-christian-bale-margot-robbie-john-david-washington-david-o-russell/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> Giving the film four out of five stars, James Mottram of ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' described ''Amsterdam'' as "a [[Hal Ashby]]-style caper full of fireworks with contemporary political overtones".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mottram |first=James |date=September 30, 2022 |title=Amsterdam: Christian Bale leads star-studded comedy-thriller |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3194355/amsterdam-movie-review-christian-bale-john-david-washington |access-date=October 1, 2022 |newspaper=South China Morning Post}}</ref> Scott Mendelson of ''[[Forbes]]'' described it as an "all-star delight" with "strong production values" and a "terrific ensemble cast delivering some top-shelf work."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Review: David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam' Is An All-Star Delight |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2022/10/04/movies-review-amsterdam-terrific-david-o-russell-christian-bale-margot-robbit-john-david-washington-taylor-swift/ |url-access=limited |access-date=October 4, 2022 |magazine=Forbes}}</ref> Chris Knight, writing for ''[[National Post]]'', admired the film's "rattling" pace, "lovely" screenplay and supporting cast.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Knight |first=Chris |date=2022-10-04 |title=Film review: Amsterdam is a busy movie, and that's not a bad thing |language=en |work=[[National Post]] |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/film-review-amsterdam-is-a-busy-movie-and-thats-not-a-bad-thing |access-date=2022-10-05}}</ref> Brian Truitt of ''[[USA Today]],'' Ryan Swen of [[Slate (magazine)|''Slate'']], and Oliver Jones of ''[[The New York Observer]]'' gave the film three out of four stars. Calling it a thoroughly entertaining, "whimsical [[whodunit]]" and "quirky, big-hearted trip", Truitt's praise was focused on the cast, especially the "crowd-pleasing" chemistry between Bale, Robbie and Washington.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Review: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie take an all-star cast to buoyant 'Amsterdam' |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/10/04/amsterdam-review-christian-bale-margot-robbie-excel-in-madcap-romp/8168526001/ |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> Swen complimented the film's sentiment and "detail-rich" narrative.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swen |first=Ryan |date=2022-10-04 |title='Amsterdam' Review: A Picaresque About Taking on Fascism |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/amsterdam-review-david-o-russell-christian-bale-margot-robbie/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=[[Slant Magazine]]}}</ref> Jones wrote, that the film is "quite odd and discombobulating, but if you allow its turned up and persistent energy to sweep over you, and soak in the joy and righteous anger that animates its generous spirit, the end result is decidedly moving, and—at some points—even enthralling."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Oliver |date=2022-10-04 |title=David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam' Is Overstuffed, Manic And Enthralling |url=https://observer.com/2022/10/david-o-russells-amsterdam-is-overstuffed-manic-and-enthralling/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=[[The New York Observer]]}}</ref>
 
Several critics found ''Amsterdam'' overambitious and tonally inconsistent. [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' rated the film three out of five stars and complimented its humor, but felt the story was "exhaustingly wacky".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Bradshaw |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Amsterdam review – turn of the screwball in David O Russell's starry muddle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/28/amsterdam-review-david-o-russell-john-david-washington-christian-bale-margot-robbie |access-date=September 29, 2022|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> ''[[/Film]]''{{'}}s Jeff Ewing stated that ''Amsterdam'' "has a number of charming scenes, a stunningly top-tier cast, and flawless cinematography", but cited "wildly fluctuating tones" and "plot contrivances" as its shortcomings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jeff |date=2022-10-04 |title=Amsterdam Review: Enjoyable Performances Can't Save David O. Russell's Undercooked Movie - /Film |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1037442/amsterdam-review-enjoyable-performances-cant-save-david-o-russells-undercooked-movie/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=[[/Film]]}}</ref> Rating it a B–B−, ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Jordan Hoffman found the cast to be "energetic, entertaining, and enjoyable", but called the film "an overly ambitious political [[potboiler]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Jordan |date=October 4, 2022 |title=In Amsterdam, Bale, Robbie, and Washington work hard to have fun |url=https://www.avclub.com/amsterdam-review-christian-bale-margot-robbie-orussell-1849597622 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> David Rooney of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote that ''Amsterdam'' is "a lot of movies inelegantly squidged into one—a zany [[screwball comedy]], a [[Crime fiction|crime thriller]], an earnest salute to pacts of love and friendship, an [[Anti-fascism|antifascist]] history lesson with fictional flourishes." He praised the lead performances, cinematography, production and costume design, but felt its material suits a [[Limited-run series|limited series]] more than a film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rooney |first=David |date=September 28, 2022|title='Amsterdam' Review: Christian Bale and Margot Robbie Head Starry Ensemble in David O. Russell's Chaotic Cautionary Tale |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/amsterdam-christian-bale-margot-robbie-david-o-russell-1235227331/ |access-date=September 29, 2022|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''{{'}}s Aurora Amidon praised the "vibrant, no-frills cinematography", "whip-tight" editing and the cast's "incredible" performances, despite the "bewildering" story.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amidon |first=Aurora |date=2022-10-03 |title=A Superb Cast Cannot Salvage Amsterdam's Hot Mess |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/amsterdam-review/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Paste |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005075529/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/amsterdam-review/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Reviewing for ''[[Screen International]]'', Tim Grierson called the film an "overstuffed murder mystery" with a "convoluted" story, but cheered some aspects—the plot's "unpredictability" and the "indulgent cheekiness" of the film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grierson |first=Tim |date=September 28, 2022 |title='Amsterdam': Review |url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/amsterdam-review/5174708.article |access-date=September 29, 2022 |magazine=[[Screen International]]}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' critic Peter Debruge dubbed it a "beautifully shot" yet "overstuffed social [[Satire (film and television)|satire]]" with intelligent ideas poorly executed.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Debruge |first=Peter|date=September 28, 2022 |title='Amsterdam' Review: Three Amigos Try to Save America in David O. Russell's Ungainly Period Dramedy |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/amsterdam-review-david-o-russell-christian-bale-margot-robbie-1235384878/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |magazine=Variety}}</ref> Ian Freer of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' stated that ''Amsterdam'' "fails to amount to more than the sum of its occasionally impressive parts."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freer |first=Ian |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Amsterdam |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/amsterdam/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref> Leah Greenblatt, writing for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]],'' rated ''Amsterdam'' a C+ and described it as an "odd [[Shaggy dog story|shaggy-dog]] mystery" with a "hectic" story, but called the production and costume design "impeccable."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |date=October 4, 2022 |title=David O. Russell's odd, fitful 'Amsterdam' is all stars and shenanigans |url=https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/amsterdam-review-david-o-russell-christian-bale/ |access-date=October 4, 2022 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>
 
Some reviews were very critical. Rating the film two out of five stars, [[Robbie Collin]] of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' found the dialogue unimpressive and wrote that Russell's screenplay "makes heavy weather" of the story.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Collin |first=Robbie |date=September 29, 2022 |title=Amsterdam, review: Margot Robbie's star power can't save this tangled comic thriller |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/amsterdam-review-margot-robbie-christian-bales-star-power-cant/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Describing the plot as a "wanton disarray", ''[[IndieWire]]''{{'}}s David Ehrlich rated the film a C−, owing to its "negligible" entertainment value.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ehrlich |first=David |date=September 28, 2022 |title='Amsterdam' Review: David O. Russell's Star-Studded Plea for Kindness Rings Hollow |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/09/amsterdam-review-david-o-russell-1234766602/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> Barry Hertz of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' wrote, "''Amsterdam'' so badly wants to be a light romp with heavy-duty meaning that it cannot help but be flattened by a sagging self-exhaustion."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hertz |first=Barry |date=October 3, 2022 |title=Review: Christian Bale and Margot Robbie miraculously survive David O. Russell's maddening Amsterdam|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-christian-bale-and-margot-robbie-miraculously-survive-david-o-russells/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> Mark Kennedy of the [[Associated Press]] stated that the film "reaches for something contemporary to say about [[race relations]], concentration of wealth, veterans and fascism but ends up with a plodding, [[Mannerism|mannerist]] noise."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Mark |date=2022-10-04 |title=Review: 'Amsterdam' wastes incredible talent on a dull story |url=https://apnews.com/article/movie-review-amsterdam-christian-bale-margot-robbie-film-02e2a09ab24d56e3f19e29478cd63b2c |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Giving the film an F rating, Chase Hutchinson of ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'' criticized its "egregious" editing, "banal" dialogue, "muddled" tone, and overall "lack of vision."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Chase |date=2022-10-04 |title='Amsterdam' Review: David O. Russell's Latest Film Is a Star-Studded Disaster |url=https://collider.com/amsterdam-review-margot-robbie-david-o-russell-taylor-swift/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Collider |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[Smedley Butler]]
* [[Bonus Army]]
 
== References ==
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{{David O. Russell}}
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[[Category:2022 comedy films]]
[[Category:2022 films]]
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[[Category:English-language Canadian films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy mystery films]]
 
[[Category:Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Films about conspiracy theories]]
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