AMSTERDAM (2022): David O. Russell Thriller Opens This Fall

Star-studded David O. Russell thriller ‘Amsterdam’ opens this Fall

After some delays, release of David O. Russell’s thriller Amsterdam is this November 4th.

An impressive roster of performers has whetted the appetite of moviegoers, already eager awaiting the release of David O. Russell’s period drama, Amsterdam. The plot is an enticing one: Three friends find that the past comes back to haunt them when accused of murder in the 1930’s. This trio forms the center of the story of two wounded soldiers who had bonded with the nurse who had tended to them years before, presumably during World War I. The accusation unveils a conspiracy, ‘the most shocking in American history,’ according to one credible report. With decades between inciting incident and the crisis at hand, plenty must be happening.

Adding to the anticipation, the beleaguered triad is played by Christian Bale and John David Washington as the soldiers, with Margot Robbie as the nurse. But they spearhead a huge host of talented performers from a wide variety of genres. Among these are Robert DeNiro, Anya Taylor-Joy, Timothy Olyphant, Michael Shannon, and Zoe Saldana. Comedians Mike Myers and Chris Rock are also present, as are character actors Leland Orser, Alessandro Nivola, and musician Taylor Swift.

My fascination, however, is with the writer/director himself. David O. Russell’s reputation, by way of his own proclamations that sound like boasting, can only be fairly described as fearless. He has broken new ground in his craft several times over at least. He never shies away from controversial topics that deserve some time in the sun, such as incest (Spanking the Monkey).

This dude evidently brings new meaning to the word ‘audacious.’ It teeters on paradox. On one hand, Russell is remarkably astute with a keen eye for controversy or dark comedy. As the son of a publishing executive, he was reared in a literate household with books aplenty. He honed his early talent for writing and later brought that to the screen more than once. On the other hand, he’s a palooka: impatient, crude, and downright bellicose, with actors in particular. But Russell has never had trouble bucking the system. (He was voted ‘Class Rebel’ in high school.)

No one, however, denies Russell’s ingenuity or innovation. Evidently, to his colleagues on set and off, he is ‘the man you hate to love,’ as the saying goes (or vice-versa). The importance of mutual respect behind the scenes is often understandably lost on the movie-going public. So how much of his damage to decorum has factored into his near misses of movie gold is hard to say. Russell certainly triumphed with Silver Linings Playbook. Quite possibly, with Amsterdam, his day has come.

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Amsterdam will be released in U.S. theaters through Walt Disney Studios on November 4, 2022. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, and Flipboard. This news was brought to our attention by Indiewire.