How star-studded ‘Amsterdam’ weaves historical fact with zany fiction

Writer-director David O. Russell has gathered some of Tinseltown’s biggest stars in his latest film, “Amsterdam.”

The quirkily convoluted tale about friendship, loyalty, love and “following the wrong god home” weaves historical fact with fiction as it follows three friends—physician Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale), lawyer Harold Woodman (John David Washington) and artist Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie)—who swear to be there for each other no matter the circumstance.

They see each other for the first time in France while serving in World War 1 in 1918. Burt meets Harold while serving as a medic for an ostracized Black regiment, the 369th, where Valerie has been assigned as a nursing volunteer tasked with helping remove shrapnel and bullets from wounded soldiers.

Fifteen years later, their paths cross again when mysterious woman Liz Meekins (Taylor Swift) seeks Burt and Harold’s help over the questionable death of her father Bill (Ed Begley Jr.), the Army general who oversaw their former regiment.

“Amsterdam” will be shown in Philippine cinemas beginning tomorrow.

At the press conference that Inquirer Entertainment attended last month, Russell, acclaimed for films like “Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle” and “The Fighter,” said that while the movie may have come to life unconventionally, the undertaking was made easier and more satisfying by the people he collaborated with.

Also present at the press con were Margot, John David, Rami Malek (as Valerie’s philanthropist brother Tom), Andrea Riseborough (as Burt’s estranged wife Beatrice), Mike Myers and Michael Shannon (as intelligence officers-cum-bird watchers) and Robert De Niro (as distinguished war veteran General Gil Dillenbeck, who’s drawn into a nefarious political conspiracy).

Unusual circumstances

The impressive cast also includes Zoe Saldaña, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Timothy Olyphant, Matthias Schoenaerts and Alessandro Nivola.

“Christian and I were very interested in creating original characters that we’d want to hang out with—and that’s where this film began,” David said. “We started with the doctor, then we began to learn from history the unusual circumstances of this doctor and his two best friends. They’re fixers who went through something together and are equipped to handle any situation.

Taylor Swift

“It may all seem fun to follow, but it also shines a light on a piece of history that we had a hold of … something that many people don’t know about. We discovered it.

“Christian and I met in a diner over the course of five years. Margot joined in maybe three or four of those years, and other people joined in later as part of the conversation.

“In some way, all of my movies have been about this, whether it’s ‘The Fighter,’ ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’ ‘American Hustle’ or ‘Joy’—they’re about outsiders who find reasons to love life in spite of whatever it is they’re facing. And that’s what the notion of ‘Amsterdam’ is. What do you love about life that you live for?”

While Christian was thrilled by the movie’s uniquely collaborative style, the actor refuses to take credit for it. “Look, I may have been involved with it for five, six years, but I feel like this has been a big part of David’s life that he was working up to doing,” pointed out the 48-year-old Oscar winner. “I was drawn to it by the wisdom of how to deal with adversity, and the absolute love of people who deal with pain and suffering with hope and optimism. They chose not to become broken by life [and the difficulties that come with it].”

Margot disclosed that, at some point, she may have taken her preparation for the role a little too far.

The 32-year-old actress related, “I had a long time to prepare for Valerie, longer than I’ve ever had to prep any of my other characters … partly because we had to shut down because of COVID … maybe a little too long, to be honest (laughs). I started making a lot of art at home during lockdown, and it was getting very weird. Valerie is cooky and artistic and fantastic and nuts.

Friendship pact

“At one point, my husband walked in on me, and I had bits of metal and fake blood, and I had my Super 8 out, with a mask on (laughs)! So, he was like, ‘I think you’re taking this character too far. You need to calm down.’ And I was like, ‘OK (laughs).’

“I fell in love with Valerie! I mean, she marches to the beat of her own drum, and her friendship pact with Harold and Burt is everything to her. But I could relate to her because I also have a very close trio similar to this.”

As for John David, he said it helped that Christian made the set a safe place for actors to immerse themselves in.

“From the performance perspective, I must say that the bedrock of this set was one of humility and optimism,” noted Denzel Washington’s 38-year-old football player-turned-actor son. “It was an easy way in when we were starting there with love and respect for one another. There were no egos on the set, so that made it easier to let your guard down and try anything, to be vulnerable, to fall flat on your face, because you know your coworkers will pick you up.

“Christian was a great leader in that way. Like, on the second day on set, he came into my little quarter and said, ‘Welcome. You made it through your first day, and it’s going to get even better from here (laughs).’

“(Turning to Christian) You remember that? I mean, that was important for me. Because Christian didn’t have to do that. He could’ve just gone straight to his trailer but, at the end of the day, he decided to tell me it was OK to get muddy.

From left: John David Washington as Harold, Christian Bale as Burt and Margot Robbie as Valerie —PHOTOS COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

“And knowing that in your spirit and subconscious, that’s going to affect your performance in a good way and inform how you interact with others. It’s the sort of foundation that is based on humility, where everybody’s championing one another.”

If “Amsterdam” is Christian’s third time to work with David on a film, Robert has even had more chances—this is his fourth—to collaborate with the filmmaker.

“That may be true, but Christian has worked with David more intensely, because he carried those films,” said the 79-year-old Hollywood legend, who’s getting rave reviews—no surprise there—for his performance here. “But I’ve always had a terrific time working with David. We’ll talk about a script or the new movie he’s working on, and he’ll tell me about the character.

“In the case of ‘Amsterdam,’ that’s how we did it. From time to time, we’d get together whenever we could, and it just evolved into what it is now. That’s how David shoots … he’s always on his feet. He’s writing as he’s shooting. He stands behind the camera operator with the Steadicam or the handheld, and tells the actors where to go or what to say.

“And sometimes, the best dialogue and delivery can come out of those spontaneous moments, because you have no time to think about it.”

David’s style and storytelling approach has been so spontaneous that he said he had written at least 10 drafts of the script!

14 drafts

“No, I counted at least 14 in my kitchen cupboard,” Christian quipped. “The other day, I opened the drawer, which I thought was a sock drawer, and there were another two in there as well (laughs)!”

While the movie tackles a lot of pertinent themes, Mike said he was just thrilled to have been asked to act in it. “I’m so proud to be part of it,” said the 59-year-old “Austin Powers” star. “Just look at this cast! It was like, I could imagine what being at the Actor’s Studio in the 1950s was like, you know what I mean? I got to watch all these great acting styles.

From left: Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Bale, Chris Rock and De Niro

“I would sometimes forget that it was my turn to talk next, because I would be, like, ‘Jesus, he’s good … holy crap!’ They’re all just spectacular. So, thank you, David, for letting me be part of this dream cast.”

For Rami, he explained why being part of the film was also special for him.

The 41-year-old Oscar winner explained, “You’ve probably heard this a lot, but it’s no cliché: This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! When you have something as simple as weighing love versus hate and have that message resound throughout the film, delivered as this shocking untold history … it’s just amazing. Its themes just resonate with all of us.

“And when you’re done watching this film, you can ask yourself: What is my Amsterdam? What is that moment where I had emotion as much as a great connection with human beings who led me to a place where I was able to ‘transcend?’

“Audiences will leave feeling just that when they walk out of the theater. They’ll think how the experience will be a sacred thing for them long after this premieres. It’s going to stand the test of time.” INQ

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