Amsterdam (2022 film): Difference between revisions

Filmed in [[Los Angeles]] from January to March 2021, it is Russell's first film since ''[[Joy (2015 film)|Joy]]'' (2015). ''Amsterdam'' was released in the United States on October 7, 2022, by [[20th Century Studios]]. The film received mixednegative 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.

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>