Amsterdam

David O. Russell writes and directs his latest star laden film. Christian Bale is Bert Berendsen a doctor who finds himself sent to the first world war frontline, where he is thrust together with Harold Woodman (John David Washington). Injured in the fighting they find themselves in the care of Valerie (Margot Robbie), whom after the war they spend time together in Amsterdam and make a pact to always watch out for each other. 15 years later, back in New York, Bert and Harold find themselves involved in a plot that involves the death of Liz Meekins (Taylor Swift) the daughter of their former commanding officer Bill (Ed Bagley Jr.). Murders that lead them into the middle of coup plot that includes General Dillenbeck (Robert De Niro) and Valerie’s family Tom (Rami Malik) and his wife Libby (Anya Taylor-Joy). Bert and Harold’s challenge, clear their names, stay alive and foil a coup.

To be brutally honest Amsterdam was a disappointment from a filmmaker who’s normally so reliable. However the stellar cast are let down by a convoluted story. The premise has promise an intriguing whodunnit against a backdrop of the rise of fascism. However, it is let down by its pedestrian telling, far too bogged down in its detail until the final act. To its credit the final act works well, thanks to the addition of De Niro’s Dillenbeck, which brings the story together and gives the often painfully slow setup a pay off. But there is a lot of setup before that payoff that ultimately isn’t so good to make the journey worthwhile.

As you’d expect the cast all deliver great performances including the strong support. Matthias Schoenaerts and Allessandro Nivola as detectives investigating Meekins death, Michael Shannon and Mike Myers as US and British “Government agents” are particular standouts.

But, Amsterdam is a classic example of less than the sum of its parts. Its excellent cast, and smart final act, that does give a payoff, doesn’t quite rescue the fact that the film asks you too work too hard to get there and ultimately it’s not quite worth it.