In 1930s New York, two World War I veterans and their nurse friend investigate the murders of a high-ranking officer and his daughter. They find themselves at the heart of one of the most secret and shocking plots in American history.
Posted at 1:30 p.m.
In principle, this new film by David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, AmericanHustle) should have been one of the great cinematic events of the season. Prestigious cast (in which we find, in addition to the three main actors, Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldaña, Mike Myers, Rami Malek, Taylor Swift and several others) and story inspired by a true story giving rise to a reconstruction of luxurious era, written by a filmmaker who usually knew how to modulate the different tones.
On paper, all the elements were thus united for this production to almost automatically obtain a pass for the next Oscar ceremony. On arrival, it will be nothing. Or so little. Because beyond its technical qualities (the artistic direction is first class), amsterdam crashes miserably.
Not funny enough to be classified as a frank comedy, not dramatic enough to draw a captivating narrative from the plot, too confusing to even arouse the interest of the spectator, amsterdam is also too long a film. When you have to cling to the aesthetic qualities of a work, undeniable in this case, to overcome boredom, it’s not a very good sign, let’s agree.
The conclusion is all the more unfortunate to make that by taking root in the meeting between three friends on the battlefields of the First World War, this story had good potential at the start. And by evoking the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy, this has political ramifications with which one could have established certain correspondences with the political reality of today. This was undoubtedly the intention of David O. Russell, but his approach does not obtain the expected result.
amsterdam is currently showing.
historical drama
amsterdam
David O.Russell
Starring Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington
2:14 a.m.
Indoors