'Amsterdam' Interview: Christian Bale Talks New Movie

Moviefone speaks with Christian Bale about ‘Amsterdam' and collaborating with director David O. Russell. "We complement each other," Bale explained.

Opening in theaters on October 7th is the third movie from Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell and Oscar-winning actor Christian Bale following ‘The Fighter’ and ‘American Hustle,’ entitled ‘Amsterdam.’

Set in the 1930’s, the new movie stars Bale as Burt Berendsen, a doctor with a prosthetic eye, who along with his friends Harold Woodsman (John David Washington), a lawyer, and Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie), a nurse, become the prime suspects in the murder of US Senator Bill Meekins (Ed Begley Jr.).

In addition to Bale, Robbie, and Washington, the movie also features an all-star cast that includes Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zoe Saldana, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Timothy Olyphant, Andrea Riseborough, Matthias Schoenaerts, Alessandro Nivola, Rami Malek, Taylor Swift, and Robert De Niro.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christian Bale about his work on ‘Amsterdam,’ why he likes collaborating with filmmaker David O. Russell, how he creates a character, and what ‘Amsterdam’ means to him.

(L to R) Christian Bale and his wife, Sibi Blažić at the Los Angeles premiere of director David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam.'

You can read the full interview below or click on the player above to watch a video of our interview with Christian Bale about ‘Amsterdam.’

Moviefone: To begin with, this is your third film with director David O. Russell, what is it about working with David that brings out the best in your performances?

Christian Bale: He's a real circular thinker and I love the way that he does think. He doesn't forget a thing. He's very passionate about what he does. We just have a good dynamic. I think it's a good yin and yang. We complement each other. On this one we decided to get much more involved than any other previous project. We started putting this together, it was five, six years ago, and just building it right from nothing. I just enjoy working with him so much, and it's always fun.

You never know exactly what's going to happen on the day. I wouldn't call it improvisation so much, as he just likes you to know the character so much that he can chuck out different ideas. Sometimes I'd riff, but most of the time he's chucking out lines or kicking me in the leg or something. It's just something that creates a very lively, colorful, beautiful but unpolished look at humanity. He loves people. He loves people and characters and so do I, so telling stories with him is just a joy.

Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'

MF: Where does the creation of a character begin for you? Is it in the voice? Is it the hair, the facial hair, the accent? What is it?

CB: I don't know what I do. I don't have any particular way of doing it. I make it up each time with every job. I begin each job going, "Oh my God, someone hired me again." I don't even know what I'm doing. I never really trained, so I don't really have a particular technique. People often say, "Oh, Bale, he's a method actor." I'm not a method actor. I would've had to train to do that. I just do whatever is necessary for each and every day.

But gradually all the bits and pieces come together. I don't have a particular order. But, of course you've got the history, the mannerisms, the voice, the body language and the walk, and when you prep something as much as David and I did on this, that was what was great. David would suggest storylines and then ask me, "What do you think Burt would do with that?" I knew it well enough by that point that I'd be able to help him out. It really gives you a nice sense of freedom, of total ownership when you're making the film.

MF: Finally, in the movie, Amsterdam is a very important place for the characters. Where is your Amsterdam?

CB: Well, I mean, obviously in the film, Amsterdam is the halcyon days for these people, when life is as it is meant to be, and how they dreamed it to be, and what they're striving for life to become like. For me it's any moment when you're totally dedicated to what you're doing.

That's when you're so absorbed in what you're doing that you can't think of anything else. I get that kick out of acting. When I was allowed to before accidents, I used to get that out of motorcycles and racing them and stuff. I get that kick out of my family as well.