Big Stars Let Down by Lackluster Script in ‘Amsterdam’

by Alexis Gentry · Published October 7, 2022 · Updated October 5, 2022

Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' AMSTERDAM — (L-R): Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ AMSTERDAM. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Amsterdam is the story of doctor Bert Berendsen (Christian Bale) and lawyer Harold Woodman (John David Washington) who get wrapped up in a wild conspiracy that eventually reunites them with Valerie (Margot Robbie), a nurse they befriended during their service in World War I. Featuring a star-studded cast including Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Zoe Saldana, Michael Shannon, Mike Meyers, Timothy Olyphant, Taylor Swift, and Robert DeNiro, the film feels like an attempt to combine the Cohen Brothers with Wes Anderson, but controversial director David O. Russell’s film lacks the charm and narrative coherence of either.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Libby, Rami Malek as Tom, Christian Bale as Burt, Robert De Niro as Gil, and Margot Robbie as Valerie in 20th Century Studios' AMSTERDAM — (L-R): Anya Taylor-Joy as Libby, Rami Malek as Tom, Christian Bale as Burt, Robert De Niro as Gil, and Margot Robbie as Valerie in 20th Century Studios’ AMSTERDAM. Photo by Merie Weismiller Wallace; SMPSP. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

There are no bad performances in the film and Bale, in particular, always brings his A-game to the table. The talented Robbie is relegated to a knockoff Sally Bowles who should be more than just an eccentric pretty girl but is constantly kneecapped by the script. The few scenes featuring Rock are entertaining and Malek is doing his trademark kinda-weird-guy thing that makes him fun to watch, but the story itself seems so wrapped up in its own failed cleverness that it tends to meander and sidetrack until you don’t even remember who was looking for what and why. It’s like a series of scenes that would seem fun in a trailer—and the trailer certainly did look like this movie had potential—but none of those moments feel connected to each other in a way that’s narratively satisfying or even logical at times.

Michael Shannon as Henry Norcross, Mike Myers as Paul Canterbury, Christian Bale as Burt Berendsen, Chris Rock as Milton King, and Robert De Niro as General Gil Dillenbeck in 20th Century Studios' AMSTERDAM — (L-R): Michael Shannon as Henry Norcross, Mike Myers as Paul Canterbury, Christian Bale as Burt Berendsen, Chris Rock as Milton King, and Robert De Niro as General Gil Dillenbeck in 20th Century Studios’ AMSTERDAM. Photo by Merie Weismiller Wallace; SMPSP. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Visually stylish and well shot, it looks like a movie (like a real, like, you know, go to the theater, film, movie), and the costumes and sets are solid. It reminded me a lot of the little details we used to see in Boardwalk Empire that make the story feel accurate to the time period. I just wish this effort had gone into a story that was actually interesting or well-executed.

At a little over two hours, it feels like trying to binge-watch a 10-episode miniseries in an afternoon when none of the episodes are really hooking you and you’re resisting the urge to look at your phone the whole time. The result is a movie that feels bloated and drags itself to the finish line of its 134-minute runtime.

So despite the enormous star power of the cast, Amsterdam ends up a very forgettable mess.