David O. Russell’s historical crime thriller epic, Amsterdam was supposed to inspire awe and captivate the audience with its enamored cinematography. Coupled with a cast of powerful Hollywood A-listers, each more brilliant than the next, the film was already halfway to the Oscars. However, the film’s highly disappointing outcome took a disastrous blow after securing a paltry opening at the theatres. Now, with the box office earnings rubbing salt to the wound, fans question whether the script was really worth sacrificing the actors’ collective conscience for.
David O. Russell’s Amsterdam Flops at the Box Office
Amsterdam, at a glance, is a dark-hued and glossy crime drama that celebrates an unusual friendship during and after the ravages of war. With Margot Robbie, John David Washington, and Christian Bale taking the centre stage in the film’s plot, the success of the script was not simply driven by the narrative but by the performances and on-screen chemistry of the exceptional trio.
But what could have easily been a box office revelry putting to shame its fellow contemporaries like Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, and Smile is instead a resounding failure echoing the soured taste of the audience when it comes to the director. Amsterdam‘s fate was sealed by the early critic reviews just as much as its own misgivings. With minimum press or promotion and a meager 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was primed to flop in its opening weekend release without having to set itself up for a big-screen failure.
Amsterdam Draws Disappointing Reactions From Fans
Ever since director David O. Russell‘s absence from the public eye, the scandalous rumors, and online hate had died down broadly enough for him to stage a grand comeback. His latest creation was supposed to silence the critics and gain back the audience’s favor with its larger-than-life vision. But the recent few years have increased the public’s scrutinizing gaze when it comes to the social exploitation of celebrity powerplay.
David O. Russell’s villainous personality marked by sexual assault allegations and physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive behavior with actors on set has caused a strained relationship to develop between the audience and their image of the Amsterdam actors. An otherwise amiable, candid, and respectable cast who have taken steps to publicly take a stand against abusive behavior have now thrown away their conscience for the allure of the five-time Oscar nominee.
Fans Upset Over the Cast of David O. Russell’s Amsterdam
Following the release of David O. Russell’s period drama, Amsterdam, it has simply been a fete of laughably disappointing critic reviews and demoralizing fan reactions. The critic consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states, “Amsterdam has a bunch of big stars and a very busy plot, all of which amounts to painfully less than the sum of its dazzling parts.” With time, the dazzling parts comprised of actors like #MeToo advocate Margot Robbie and defender of women, Christian Bale, too, faced the wrath of the simmering audience.
Opening to a mere $6.5 million against its $80 million budget, Amsterdam misses more than it hits and continues to become a subject of ridicule and backlash due to its unnecessary extravagance combined with the poor choices made by the cast in a momentary lapse of judgment.
Source: Variety