Amsterdam Movie Review

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:01:15 +0000

Idiosyncratic auteur David O Russell uses one of the lesser known political outrages from the Nineteen-thirties to tell his latest tale. He digs deep once again in his Rolodex and gathers an all-star ensemble to focus on another group of outsiders.

This actual event, the Wall Street Putsch of 1933 as it was known was an attempt by a group of rich industrialists to overthrow the then government of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and install a dictator of their choosing. That event informs the events of Amsterdam but in a roundabout way.

The main cast of characters are made up of a trio brought together by World War I. Doctor Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale) the evening’s narrator and the soul of the proceedings, his war mate Harold Woodman (John David Washington) and Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie) as the nurse that took care of them after they were injured.

The story is delivered with a nod and wink at most times and is more amusing that laugh outlaid funny. It also unfortunately mirrors current world events at the moment a little too much, although the world leaders of today are nowhere near as entertaining. Capturing the period with impeccable set designs and costumes, this is another worthy addition to O Russell’s ever-expanding collection of great yearns.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

American Hustle Movie Review

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 22:35:31 +0000

Few ensemble cast films of recent memory have featured so many juicy roles that have been so completely realized. This dramatic take on an actual event (the FBI’s ABSCAM sting operation back in the late seventies) was directed by David O. Russell and in-line with many of his previous films like Three Kings and Silver Linings Playbook, feature very rich characterization.

The always-outstanding British actor Christian Bale lays to rest the man in black for the new man in fat. His visual transformation is just one element of his transcendent performance. He has to act his butt off just to transcend that hairdo of his. Jennifer Lawrence adds to her building resume of great performances as Bale’s on screen wife who is both hilarious and clueless.

Bradley Cooper’s manic drug fuelled performance is also outstanding. Now no discussion of great roles in this film would be complete without discussing the part the wardrobe plays in this film. The seventies hair and fashion defies gravity and the specter of soft-core porn with some wicked comb overs, hair curlers and well placed double sided adhesive tape.

Thankfully the saying ‘if you remember the seventies, you weren’t actually alive in the seventies’ is proven untrue as both the director and actors get the nuances just right. See this film for the humour and spectacle, remember it for the human pathos and misguided sense of right and wrong.

Rob Hudson
www.americanhustle-movie.com

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Amsterdam Movie Review

American Hustle Movie Review