Sunday, September 18, 2022, was the world premiere of Amsterdam at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City. The film is director David O. Russell’s first film since 2015. It not only stars three past Academy Award winners and an Academy Award host, but it also introduces 33-year-old actor Vaughn Page in his first-ever film role, per Roger Friedman’s Showbiz 411.
Amsterdam is a period mystery loosely based on a true story written, directed, and produced by Russell (Flirting with Disaster, American Hustle). Set in the 1930s, the film follows three friends who witness a murder, with Christian Bale in the lead, alongside Margot Robbie and John David Washington, and after being framed for it, they uncover one of the most outrageous plots in US history. The film also stars an ensemble cast including Michael Shannon, Rami Malek, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldana, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert De Niro, and Beth Grant.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
But alongside the Hollywood A-listers is also a newcomer, actor Vaughn Page, who is appearing in his first film and plays the role of Patient Victor. According to Friedman, “Russell apparently liked him so much that he increased his work schedule from 1 day to eighteen. Vaughn pops up all over the movie, starting with the opening scene.”
Friedman continues, “Page spent six years in the Air Force, where he took some acting classes. He went to a local LA college [El Camino College] after that, took a couple more acting classes, and everyone there urged him to start auditioning. His career has taken off like a rocket. He’s picked up small parts in things like HBO’s Winning Time and in a new Star Trek series. He’s on his way!”
Amsterdam Is David O. Russell’s First Movie Since 2015’s Joy
Amsterdam is Russell’s first movie since 2015’s Joy. Reports of the filmmaker’s combative and abusive behavior toward actors on set started surfacing in 1998 when news spread that Russell and George Clooney nearly came to blows on the set of 1999’s Three Kings, according to Consequence Film. Then there were the abusive and sexist tirades against Lily Tomlin in 2003 on the set of I Heart Huckabees, incidents that were caught on video and leaked to the public in 2007.
In 2011, Russell’s 19-year-old transgender niece filed a police report alleging that her uncle had groped her while working out. Although in a statement to police, the filmmaker said that his niece was “acting very provocative toward him,” and he was “curious about the breast enhancement,” he was not charged with a crime. Ultimately, the case was closed because the alleged assault wasn’t witnessed by police. Two years later, Christian Bale had to step in for his co-star Amy Adams on the set of American Hustlers, and tell the director to “stop acting like an asshole.” Both of these incidents were directly mentioned in 2014’s Sony Pictures Entertainment hack.
Amsterdam’s press tour has included a lot of soundbites of the stars sharing their experiences on set working with David O. Russell. But other than a lot of diner meetings with Bale and overworking to the point the police were called on the final day of filming, what has Russell done to learn better to self-regulation techniques when he is on set?
