AMSTERDAM is a Raymond Chandleresque epic noir, by which I mean that the mystery is buried under so many layers that you don't really know what's going on until the end. It is similar to THE BIG SLEEP or INHERENT VICE in that regard. Stories like this are entertaining and you know they're going somewhere, so you take the ride, thrill to the scenes and set pieces, and wait for the pay-off.

AMSTERDAM is also, like INHERENT VICE, the kind of noir where the sleuth isn't a rugged bad-ass, but is instead a more alienated or fringe member of society. In this case there are 2, then 3 protagonists, and together they are in a wonderful friendship.

This is a sweet, humane, and fun movie, wonderfully acted and beautifully filmed. The cast is full of fine actors. But the performance from Christian Bale is really something to behold. He inhabits this wonderful character, this humane and sweet natured Doctor who tries so hard to help, and whose charming and bumbling personality is such a joy to experience.