Amsterdam

Amsterdam comes roaring out of the gate with a fast-paced, quirky, charming, and unique mystery of the likes of Sherlock Holmes or Knives Out. The list of celebrities and actors continues to grow as almost every face in this movie is another a-lister making an entertaining appearance. I was so excited to see what happened next and was surprised when the story suddenly screeched to a halt for a very long slow flashback that didn't offer much to the plot. I hoped the exciting pace would return when the story returned to its original narrative, but the risk and urgency had been replaced by a scattered collection of arbitrary dialogue and scenes that lingered much longer than needed. The pacing lagged almost an hour before ramping back up in the final act. Amsterdam had so much potential but floundered in its attempts to be different and unique. The film's best part was Michael Shannon and Mike Myers' quirky bird-loving spies. Every time they were on the screen, I couldn't help but laugh. Christian Bale logged another amazing performance, as expected. But even with entertaining characters, great performances, and an exciting opening and conclusion, Amsterdam fumbled all its fantastic elements and ended up making my eyes heavy and my heart yearn to go to bed early.

Amsterdam is one of those films that swings for the fences, and while it doesn't always hit the mark, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the ride. The movie is a wild blend of historical fiction, mystery, and dark comedy, all wrapped up in a stylish package. Its boldness is one of its most appealing traits-this isn't a film that plays it safe, and I respect that. Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington bring a quirky energy to their roles that makes the oddball trio surprisingly endearing. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved watching them navigate through the film's twisted plot.

Visually, Amsterdam is a treat. The costumes, set design, and cinematography all capture the 1930s with a vibrant, almost surreal flair that keeps you hooked. The film's offbeat humor also worked for me, with enough clever dialogue and absurd situations to keep me chuckling.

However, Amsterdam isn't without its flaws. The plot can get a bit convoluted, and there were moments where I felt the film was trying to juggle too many themes at once. Some of the supporting characters, despite being played by a stellar cast, don't get enough time to truly shine. The pacing, too, is uneven, with the film sometimes dragging in its attempts to tie everything together.

Despite these issues, Amsterdam is a fun, if slightly messy, cinematic experience. It's not for everyone, but if you're into films that dare to be different and aren't afraid to mix genres with a touch of madness, this one's worth the watch.

A quirky genre-bending caper with a political bent seems right up David O. Russell's alley. Unfortunately, this movie just never gels. At all. It feels like 10 different movies with 10 different casts, even if those casts are flat out jaw-dropping. I enjoyed some of those movies more than others (e.g. The farcical scenes when Russell pretended to be Wes Anderson), but every time I started getting interested in a plot or enjoying a performance, the whole thing swerved. And more often than not it served right off the road.

Also, was Bale doing a Peter Falk impersonation? I kept waiting for him to light a cigar and say, "Just one more thing..."

Can't see why there are so many negative reviews unless it's right wing trolls or the typical american cluelessness about the country's past (and present) and painfully limited attention span. GREAT cast. You have to be patient with films like this and I'm sorry that that's enough to turn off so many people. The editing is a bit rough at times but not enough to warrant the negativity.

Now I have to meet the required character count so feel free to ignore the rest of this review and GIVE THIS MOVIE A CHANCE! I'd watch these actors in almost anything so I was happy the indifference to this film turned out to be unjustified.

I love this movie. I enjoyed every scene and I had no trouble following the plot. I read reviews by professional movie critics that made me realize not all movie critics have the intelligence and imagination we expect them to have.

It was a work of art and and important historical story. The culture of our current society is very similar to that of the period of this movie. I believe that explains why many powerful people in the movie industry would be critical of this production and of the director and writer David O Russell. I think those critics would be more impressed by the greed and influence of the Committee of the Five. Not me! I'm all in with Harold, Valerie and Burt. Art, love and beauty is what truly matters in life.