Amsterdam Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs
As infuriating as it is entertaining.
At the start of the year, David O. Russell's new period dramedy Amsterdam seemed like a solid gold Oscar threat, yet after rumours began to swirl of less-than-stellar test screenings and it didn't play at any fall film festivals, it seemed like Russell might be serving up a stone cold turkey.
And indeed, Amsterdam has received a thorough shellacking from critics so far, who have rightly taken Russell's swollen, meandering - yet undeniably curious - piece of work to task.
Is Amsterdam a terrible movie? Absolutely not, yet it is a massive disappointment considering the absurd number of talented people involved with its creation.
Feelings for the understandably controversial Russell aside, he's a tremendously talented filmmaker who, despite his major successes over the last decade with Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, has taken a big swing and a miss here.
As a result, Disney is basically sending Russell's poorly-marketed film out to die, without a hope in hell of recouping its huge $80 million budget.
And so, while Amsterdam isn't the disasterpiece more hyperbolic voices might suggest, it's certainly a misfire of intent.
And so, here's what it just doesn't get right...