5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
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.
Starring: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea RiseboroughDrama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
History | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In the wake of the events of January 6, 2021, there has been a lot of bandwidth given over to investigating and reporting on perceived right wing extremism, and in that regard as this review is being published the current chart topping podcast Ultra by Rachel Maddow, who I'm sure some would describe as a left wing extremist, makes a cogent case that "everything old is new again", or perhaps vice versa, so to speak, as she recounts a rather well documented tale surrounding what she describes as an American fascist plot actually overtly aligned with the Nazi party during World War II. Had anyone actually bothered to see Amsterdam when it had what was by most accounts a disastrously ill attended theatrical exhibition, they may have come to the conclusion that Maddow's investigative efforts were actually late to the party (Nazi or otherwise), in more ways than one, including the obvious fact that this film pre-dates the podcast by some time. In another but perhaps even more salient way, close to a decade before the events of Ultra there was another American fascist plot being hatched, and Amsterdam fitfully attempts to weave several fictional characters into this apparently also well documented factual event. Amsterdam is almost relentlessly manic in its storytelling, and it has a list of star cameos that may not exactly reach the heights (and/or depths, depending on your point of view) of something like The Greatest Story Ever Told, but which may end up actually distracting from a rather interesting underlying story which more than obviously has relevance to the political climate in today's United (?) States of America.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc.
Amsterdam is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of 20th Century Studios and Disney / Buena Vista with a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. The
IMDb lists the Arri Alexa Mini LF and a 4K DI as relevant data points. Some regular readers of my reviews may know that for whatever reason I often
tend to prefer Red captures to Arri Alexa captures, but for every "rule" there's an exception, and this generally stunning presentation would definitely be
one. An already gorgeous 1080 presentation is improved at least marginally and I'd actually argue surprisingly substantially both in terms of an uptick
in general and perhaps especially fine detail levels, but also in a rendering of the often rather beautifully "peachy" palette that Russell and DP
Emmanuel Lubezki employ. Some of the pastel hues in the slightly pink to yellow ranges are especially wonderfully nuanced in this 4K UHD
presentation. Detail levels are almost palpable at times in terms of everything from finely patterned wall paper to some of the gruesome scars on
various veterans' bodies.
Amsterdam features a nicely immersive Dolby Atmos track that as an Atmos track may frankly not have the most stunning verticality I've ever heard, but which nicely adds subtle spaciousness to an already excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that is on the 1080 disc in this package. Huge overhead effects are minimal, with some of the World War I sequences arguably providing a bit, even if there aren't any huge detailed battle sequences, but there is still regular and noticeable engagement of the surround channels throughout this presentation. The cacophonous sounds of what amounts to a battlefield M*A*S*H unit to some actual quasi-song and dance material that briefly fills the screen offer good opportunities for side and rear channel activity. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available, though the film does default to (again optional, if you cycle through) English subtitles for some of the foreign language material.
The 4K UHD disc does not have any supplements. The 1080 disc included with this release features the same supplement as the standalone 1080:
Does Amsterdam attempt to do way too much? Probably inarguably. But I'd almost prefer a film that has huge if unfulfilled ambitions rather than yet another cookie cutter enterprise. On one hand I'm not sure we should be reacting to attempted overthrows of democracy with a sanguine "oh, isn't that cute?", which is kind of what this film seems to offer, but on the other hand, maybe it is best not to take things too seriously. I'm evidently in the minority in terms of having liked this film despite its hyperbolism, but one way or the other this 4K UHD presentation offers really sumptuous video and enjoyable audio. Recommended.
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