AMSTERDAM is a warm east wind from its opening scene: mellow, capricious, a thing to be enjoyed, not picked apart. Close your eyes and you can enjoy it, glue them open and pick it to death and you've destroyed the very things that make movies fun to watch. This film doesn't deserve the criticism it's received.

THE GOOD: Its star-studded cast leaves no stone unturned with its performances, which will muddled at times are entirely truthful and one of the stronger points. Note also a certain poignancy to the film which took some time to cultivate but really blossomed in the narrative's later acts.

THE BAD: The first, say, third of the movie feels divorced from the rest of it despite being an essential component of its development.

THE UGLY: Producers didn't make their money back due to screwball choices like casting Taylor Swift in a forgettable opening sequence, which benefitted no one.

CONCLUSION: See it, it's better than they say, but steel yourself for a rough ride before it smooths out.