A -{ B I G }- Screen Mini Review ; Film Seen on Saturday ; Oct.08, 2022.
______________________________________________________
Dear Reader, JUST IN CASE you're -not- aware, "Amsterdam" is, in -actuality-, "structured" around several REAL LIFE EVENTS, -all- of which transpired over the early part of the 20th century. I'm telling you this for the simple, following reason. Once I'd done just a -little- bit of research on the matter, but only -AFTER- having viewed said movie .....{ I'd had absolutely -no- idea of this entire 'True History' aspect of Amsterdam whatsoever prior to my viewing of it ; I'd just ( -wrongly- ) assumed that it was going to be entirely fictional ; like say, most other theatrical offerings available out there over the course of an average moviegoing week }..... my appreciation for veteran director David O. Russell's massive, ambitious "Period Caper" immediately started to grow, A N D -{ T R E M E N D O U S L Y }- S O.
______________________________________________________
The picture was in -FACT- inspired in whole by the "BUSINESS PLOT" ; a 1933 political conspiracy in which a veritable HANDFUL -{ literally! }- of "uberwealthy" American bankers and businessmen plotted a military coup d'état to overthrow widely Beloved US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt . . . . . { often referred to affectionately as simply "FDR", and -immensely- revered by his base for the many Progressive Policies that he enacted ; including SEVERAL that resulted in uplifting the lives of -multiple- minority groups in America, over the course of his 'enormous' 12 year tenure } . . . . . And replace him with a truly malicious and fascist Veterans' Organization ; headed by a Marine Corps Major General by the name of Smedley Butler. -This- particular narrative account of the events in question relates the goings-on from the perspective of three "MADLY" loyal friends, who get unwittingly drawn -{ right }- into the mayhem. The parts are played to utter PERFECTION, ( and then some! ), by Margot Robbie, Christian Bale & John David Washington ( leading man of "Tenet", and real-life son to none other than Denzel Washington ). And finally, without further ado, that leads me to this: a bit of sincere, friendly advice to you. If you're someone who DOESN'T appreciate one or more of the three characteristics listed below, ALL of which are -{ specific }- to Amsterdam ; then be assured, this particular film will very likely -{ NOT }- be 'right up your alley'. Here goes. 1. Long-Playing ( albeit very comically enriched ) dramas, that -REALLY- take their time to build up their respective storytelling arcs, and do so in a -genuinely- "Relaxed And Unrushed" manner, at that ( a production sensibility that - I - for one, have always -truly- appreciated ). 2. Quite simply put: PERIOD PIECES that have "that distinct Oscar contender" feel to them ( in general ). 3. Movies that try & show "The Best In Us", and that break down RACE BARRIERS, ( as well as other socially iniquitous barriers like the altogether unfounded fear, and prejuduce, of "the other" ), in the most Tender, Poignant, And Often HEARTMELTING of ways.
SUMMARY: If, on the flip side, you're -{ NOT }- likely to be fazed by -any- of the three aforementioned salient aspects of Amsterdam { "Good On You, Yay!" } ; -and- its 'decidedly non-cursory' runtime of about 135 minutes doesn't intimidate you ( -EITHER- ) ; then you're in for a "mindbogglingly entertaining" festival of -genuinely dazzling- . . . "Star Power", to the tune of FIFTEEN MAGNIFICENT A-LISTERS, no less! I sincerely hope this picture resonates with you 'deeply and personally', the way it did with me. I left the theatre not only literally -overflowing- with a sort of renewed sense of "Hope For Common Decency" but, ( quite frankly ), "For Humanity Itself". Furthermore, as I emerged into the calming serenity of the night sky ; I was -also- utterly { E C S T A T I C ! } in the "secure" knowledge that my favourite male actor 'of-all-time', ( the one & only Christian Bale! ), "was every bit the Deeply Caring And Noble HUMAN being that I'd -always- believed him to be" . . . Based on his "RAW AND SHOCKINGLY HONEST PERFORMANCE" -alone- ; adorably quirky narration and all. So my score? 25 Lavish, Grandiose Marks Out Of 10. "Sheer no brainer!!!!!"
______________________________________________________
Dear Reader, JUST IN CASE you're -not- aware, "Amsterdam" is, in -actuality-, "structured" around several REAL LIFE EVENTS, -all- of which transpired over the early part of the 20th century. I'm telling you this for the simple, following reason. Once I'd done just a -little- bit of research on the matter, but only -AFTER- having viewed said movie .....{ I'd had absolutely -no- idea of this entire 'True History' aspect of Amsterdam whatsoever prior to my viewing of it ; I'd just ( -wrongly- ) assumed that it was going to be entirely fictional ; like say, most other theatrical offerings available out there over the course of an average moviegoing week }..... my appreciation for veteran director David O. Russell's massive, ambitious "Period Caper" immediately started to grow, A N D -{ T R E M E N D O U S L Y }- S O.
______________________________________________________
The picture was in -FACT- inspired in whole by the "BUSINESS PLOT" ; a 1933 political conspiracy in which a veritable HANDFUL -{ literally! }- of "uberwealthy" American bankers and businessmen plotted a military coup d'état to overthrow widely Beloved US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt . . . . . { often referred to affectionately as simply "FDR", and -immensely- revered by his base for the many Progressive Policies that he enacted ; including SEVERAL that resulted in uplifting the lives of -multiple- minority groups in America, over the course of his 'enormous' 12 year tenure } . . . . . And replace him with a truly malicious and fascist Veterans' Organization ; headed by a Marine Corps Major General by the name of Smedley Butler. -This- particular narrative account of the events in question relates the goings-on from the perspective of three "MADLY" loyal friends, who get unwittingly drawn -{ right }- into the mayhem. The parts are played to utter PERFECTION, ( and then some! ), by Margot Robbie, Christian Bale & John David Washington ( leading man of "Tenet", and real-life son to none other than Denzel Washington ). And finally, without further ado, that leads me to this: a bit of sincere, friendly advice to you. If you're someone who DOESN'T appreciate one or more of the three characteristics listed below, ALL of which are -{ specific }- to Amsterdam ; then be assured, this particular film will very likely -{ NOT }- be 'right up your alley'. Here goes. 1. Long-Playing ( albeit very comically enriched ) dramas, that -REALLY- take their time to build up their respective storytelling arcs, and do so in a -genuinely- "Relaxed And Unrushed" manner, at that ( a production sensibility that - I - for one, have always -truly- appreciated ). 2. Quite simply put: PERIOD PIECES that have "that distinct Oscar contender" feel to them ( in general ). 3. Movies that try & show "The Best In Us", and that break down RACE BARRIERS, ( as well as other socially iniquitous barriers like the altogether unfounded fear, and prejuduce, of "the other" ), in the most Tender, Poignant, And Often HEARTMELTING of ways.
SUMMARY: If, on the flip side, you're -{ NOT }- likely to be fazed by -any- of the three aforementioned salient aspects of Amsterdam { "Good On You, Yay!" } ; -and- its 'decidedly non-cursory' runtime of about 135 minutes doesn't intimidate you ( -EITHER- ) ; then you're in for a "mindbogglingly entertaining" festival of -genuinely dazzling- . . . "Star Power", to the tune of FIFTEEN MAGNIFICENT A-LISTERS, no less! I sincerely hope this picture resonates with you 'deeply and personally', the way it did with me. I left the theatre not only literally -overflowing- with a sort of renewed sense of "Hope For Common Decency" but, ( quite frankly ), "For Humanity Itself". Furthermore, as I emerged into the calming serenity of the night sky ; I was -also- utterly { E C S T A T I C ! } in the "secure" knowledge that my favourite male actor 'of-all-time', ( the one & only Christian Bale! ), "was every bit the Deeply Caring And Noble HUMAN being that I'd -always- believed him to be" . . . Based on his "RAW AND SHOCKINGLY HONEST PERFORMANCE" -alone- ; adorably quirky narration and all. So my score? 25 Lavish, Grandiose Marks Out Of 10. "Sheer no brainer!!!!!"