Returning after a seven-year absence, David O Russell (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook) goes full screwball at the helm of a 1930s-set conspiracy caper that declares at the outset, somewhat misleadingly, that ‘a lot of this really happened’. Bringing together the triple whammy of Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington, and with even minor roles filled by very famous faces, it’s a film as starry as a clear night sky.

Bale is the half-blind, artfully dishevelled, New York-based doctor, Burt Berendsen. In what turns out to be a highly convoluted story, Burt finds himself framed for murder alongside his attorney pal and fellow WWI veteran Harold (Washington) after the duo are called upon to investigate the suspicious death of their former unit commander Bill (played by Ed Begley Jr). Robbie is Valerie, the woman who nursed them back to health following their battlefield heroics, and who Burt and Harold once teamed up with in the titular city. Robert De Niro pops up as a decorated general being courted by dastardly plotters, with Michael Shannon and Mike Myers as bird-loving intelligence officers, and Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, Andrea Riseborough, Taylor Swift, and many more appearing.

Amsterdam’s self-consciously quirky style and unabashed indulgence does wear thin, but it is at least a beautifully designed production, abundant with eccentric details, softly lit and offering an interesting visual skew on the period. However, narrative-wise, it’s a mess: the plot is poorly constructed, elements such as racial tension are underexplored and, given the third-act stakes, a touch of urgency wouldn’t have gone amiss.  The cast add value and appear to be enjoying themselves, yet only Bale’s endearing oddball is fully realised. There’s fun to be had here no doubt, just not nearly as much as you’d like.

Amsterdam is in cinemas from Friday 7 October.