The Disney+ Star-Studded Mystery Thriller That Should Have Been A Blockbuster
In today’s media landscape, it seems that the era of leading men getting films made on the recognition of a single name has fallen by the wayside, in favor of massive ensemble casts. One film, which premiered in 2022, has one of the most astoundingly stacked casts of the 21st century, and still managed to underperform, thanks to a few wacky ideas from its controversial filmmaker. The film in question, Amsterdam, was written and directed by David O’Russell, and is currently available to stream on Disney+.
Amsterdam On Disney+
Amsterdam is available to stream in the Hulu section of Disney+. The section is currently still in beta, though subscribers are rewarded for the hassle with a massive library of exclusive titles such as Pacific Rim, Boss Level, and many others.
Amsterdam was produced by Regency Enterprises, DreamCrew Entertainment, and Keep Your Head Prodcutions, and distributed by 20th Century Studios.
The Cast
Amsterdam touts an all-star cast of performers, including Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Timothy Olyphant, Robert De Niro, and even a cameo appearance from Taylor Swift.
Based On Actual Events
The film is loosely based on an historical event which saw members of the American Nazi party attempting to overthrow the United States government in 1933. While the true conspiracy drives the plot of the film, much of Amsterdam‘s narrative relies on wholly original material surrounding its main characters.
The Set-Up
Amsterdam centers on Christian Bale‘s Burt Berendsen, who begins an independent medical practice after being severely injured in World War 1. Berendsen’s best friend and former platoon-mate Harold begin to unravel a strange and unnerving political plot after performing an autopsy on a deceased senator who once served as their commanding officer. The senator’s daughter believes that her father has been poisoned by his constituents, and just as the veteran duo confirm her suspicions, she is pushed into oncoming traffic by a mysterious hitman.
As Burt, Harold, and a growing team of patriotic investigators continue to tug at the strings of these bizarre murders, they begin to uncover a complex scheme to undermine the United States government from the inside. Eventually, the conspiracy spirals into an international incident, which sees members from foreign intelligence agencies working alongside government insiders to stop a twisted Nazi plot from destroying democracy as we know it.
Critics Didn’t Love It
Unfortunately, by Amsterdam‘s third act, the convoluted plot and unnecessary character deviations become nearly incomprehensible, as the film relies far too heavily on contrived personal details rather than dramatizing the fascinating true events.
Amsterdam currently holds a paltry 32 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics bashing the film’s meandering plot and strange character choices. David O’Russell became embroiled in controversy shortly after the film premiered, as several actors and film industry insiders accused the director of abuse and sexual harassment, both on and off the set of his films. To this day, film fans can’t help but wonder how Amsterdam could have turned out if O’Russell had shifted his focus in the film, or offered the project to another filmmaker entirely.
The Cast Makes It Worth A Watch
Despite the film failing to meet expectations, there’s certainly something to be said for the massive cast. If you haven’t had a chance to catch this odd trainwreck, or are just in need of a quick refresher on the film’s potential, you can stream Amsterdam on Hulu through Disney+ today.
