I know this movie did poorly at the box office. Despite all its big names, it flopped upon release last year, to the tune of almost $100 million dollars - pretty much a total loss.

That said, I don't know exactly why "Amsterdam" was so unpopular. (Was it the scandal that David O Russell was embroiled in years back?) I actually really liked it, though I had no idea what to expect from "Amsterdam" going in. The movie isn't exactly fast-paced, but it does contain flashbacks and heavy/important dialogue. There is humor peppered throughout, but it's the quirky, quiet, dry kind so maybe audiences just didn't quite get it?

I'll admit, the plot did lose me a little toward the end, but I mostly found my way back. It kicks off with a dead person, and then another abrupt (non-gory) murder, before Christian Bale's character flashes back to give more context. He is oddly charming as Burt Berendsen, a Park Avenue doctor-turned-reluctant-soldier/veteran who is forced into war at the suggestion of his wife's wealthy family. Burt quickly forms a friendship with a fellow (Black) army member, John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman). Margot Robbie, beautiful and talented as ever, meets these two later as the nurse tending to their extreme battle wounds. I thought all three of the main stars had great chemistry as they try to solve the many layers to the two deaths at the beginning...but Margot Robbie's character flitted in and out of the story a little.

I didn't like this one as much as "Joy", or "American Hustle", but I do still think it's worth a watch. It's a star-studded period piece loosely based on actual events (key word: loosely) and I for one, think it's pretty interesting and fun, despite some political undertones.

Great performances by Christian Bale and John David Washington, and the dynamic between Margot Robbie's Valerie and Anya Taylor-Joy's Libby is truly entertaining.

Keep an eye out for all the stars here, there are a fair amount!