David O. Russell’s latest directorial effort Amsterdam is his first feature film since 2015’s Joy, and joy is exactly what it hopes to bring to the table. Christian Bale leads a star-studded cast through a zany murder mystery and sweeping war saga in the 1930s, but the heart of the story lies in his character Burt Berendsen’s friendship with Harold Woodman (John David Washington) and Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie). Though their own bond was forged in war, they spend much of the film’s runtime reveling in peace before its shattered by the threat of new evil emerging.
Amsterdam boasts even more talent among its ensemble cast, including Chris Rock as Milton, Zoe Saldana as Irma, Mike Myers as Paul, Matthias Schoenaerts as Getwiller, Rami Malek as Tom, and Robert De Niro as Gil. If that sounds like more than one mind can handle, don’t forget that Anya Taylor-Joy, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, and Taylor Swift can be counted among the cast as well. Every character is intricately connected over the course of several decades and ultimately ties back to Burt and his inability to give up on anyone or anything.
Screen Rant spoke to Bale about the power of his creative partnership with David O. Russell, finding joy in the heartbreaks of his character Burt’s life, and whether bad guys really do have more fun.
Christian Bale Talks Amsterdam
Screen Rant: You have partnered with David O. Russell several times over like the last decade or so. What is it that draws you back to working with him in that partnership?
Christian Bale: He’s just a magnetic filmmaker. I like his company. We like talking together. Every film that we make, we usually get 10 more days on the schedule, I’ve noticed.
I was just really fortunate and very appreciative to David that he brought me in right at the intersection when he was very first having the seeds of [it]. He’d learned about this event in American history, he had these characters and this idea of a friendship he wanted to create, and he wanted to bring me in right at that point.
And, my God, what a joy that was. We put it together for six years. I went away and made different films during that time, but I always had Burt in the back of my mind, bubbling away. And then creating characters that we were in love with; that we wanted to hang out with. It was a friendship that we wanted to have in our lives; a friendship that said they will be there for each other and do anything for each other no matter what. [We were] bringing the joy in the life that these characters who really should, because of what’s happening in their lives, be broken people—but they refuse that. They refuse to go numb, and they refuse to be cynical; they remain optimistic.
We set out to create that, and my God, what a wonderful journey it was. And how blessed we were with all the people who came and joined us on that journey.
Speaking of those people, that trio’s friendship is so fascinating. Burt feels most at home with them and feels the most love with them, yet they also have their own relationship going on separate from him, which is so interesting. Can you talk about bringing Margo and John David into that story and working with them to create that dynamic?
Christian Bale: Yeah, they’re both absolutely stellar, wonderful actors, and they’re playing incredible characters. Margot is this force of nature, and Valerie is a force of nature. Valerie is based on these various artists; these Dada artists of the era. And JD’s at a wonderful place, because he’s an incredibly experienced actor and has great life experience as well. We’re starting to see more of him, but you don’t know much about him—or at least I don’t yet. And so it’s such a delight to watch him in this film, and just see him as Harold.
It’s been a real pleasure to work with the two of them and create this triangle of friends who have a pact, and have a friendship that I think most people are going to watch and go, “I want to have that friendship.” You just want to hang out [with them]—I do. I watched the film and I go, “Please, please. I don’t want this to end. I just love these characters. I want this to keep going, and I want to be friends with them.”
I really loved the phrase that Burt repeats throughout the film, about following the wrong or right god home. What does that mean to you when you’re playing his character?
Christian Bale: I actually forget where that came from. I believe there was a poet, but David will be better to answer that. I’ve forgotten through all the years, but that became a staple early on.
[It’s about] doing the right thing, and also making sure that your dreams are the right dreams. Because Burt is chasing a dream that really has passed him by and he’s moved on from, but he won’t admit it. Because he’s just scrapper; he’s a fighter, and he’s also very stubborn-minded. He has a difficult personality—but a beautifully fun personality. He’s someone sort of forged in the crucible of the Great War, as their friendship was, but who remains full of love and optimism and joy and singing and dancing and everything.
But that particular thing is actually about dreams, and the beauty of dreams. Sometimes you have to give up your dreams because maybe they’re not right for you any longer, and sometimes you have grown beyond that dream. That’s what it means in particular to Burt’s character in this.
Finally, you played my first and favorite Batman, but you’ve also recently had a taste of supervillainy with Thor: Love And Thunder. Do bad guys have more fun?
Christian Bale: They do, absolutely. They not only have more fun, but they’re easier to play. Because everybody is fascinated with bad guys, right? The minute the bad guy walks on the screen, no one’s looking at the good guy anymore. All eyes go to the bad guy, so it’s a much easier acting gig.
About Amsterdam
Set in the ’30s, it follows three friends who witness a murder, become suspects themselves, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
Amsterdam will be released in theaters on October 7.
Key Release Dates
Amsterdam
Release Date:2022-10-07
