Amsterdam Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

2. Its Timely Themes

For better and sometimes worse, Amsterdam is the most timely film of David O. Russell's entire career.

Without going into too much detail regarding the plot's direction, there is a deeply committed attempt to parallel its story with certain traumatic events in recent American politics.

Russell is very clearly decrying fascist hatemongers who attempt to seize power while turning a nation's citizens against each other through manufactured hate and, yes, fake news.

And though Russell's script ultimately bashes the audience over the head with these ideas by film's end, it's still interesting to see a director of his general abrasiveness put such an earnest message into one of his movies.