The film presumes to demand respect as a warning about threats to democracy. At the same time, the pratfalls, cartoonish bad guys and goofy situations tell the viewer not to take it seriously. Amsterdam does not succeed as parody, allegory or metaphor. It mainly succeeds in taking excellent actors and using them to confuse and bore the audience. With an hour left, I took a break to assess whether my life would be less full if I walked away. I walked away. I don't know where this production went off the rails but it's a shame that this important story was wasted on celebrity and cheap stunts. Too bad.