It is so refreshing to see a film that does not follow the standard Hollywood blueprint. Amsterdam brings a style and sensibility that is purely its own to the screen and uses it to tell a story that manages to be both entertaining and topical.

The less you know about the plot, the better for your appreciation. The amazing cast are uniformly excellent, with special credit to Anya Taylor-Joy who plays "spoiled rich bitch" with utter joy. The plot may be a bit heavy-handed with its relevance to the current political situation in the USA (or maybe it has always been that way). For example, the would-be assassin shouting "I'm a veteran and a patriot" feels uncomfortably 'now'.

The centre of this film is about love & friendship and the choices we make to sacrifice these things in the name of ambition, power, money and acceptance by those whom we are told we should be seeking it from, but are actually unworthy of it.

Choose love and friendship. Reject hate and greed.

Not a bad message.