“This is how I win.” - Howard Ratner
Uncut Gems is a crime thriller directed by Josh and Benny Safdie. The films stars Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner, a jeweler who is addicted to gambling. The film also stars Lakeith Stanfield, Idina Menzel, Kevin Garnett, and Julia Fox. When Howard neglects to pay off the money he owes to a loan shark named Arno, his life is at risk. Things get even more complicated when famous basketball player Kevin Garnett borrows one of Howard’s most priceless gems.
Uncut Gems is not at all the type of film that I expected it to be. People have been calling it nerve-shredding and anxiety-inducing from start to finish, and while the film did have many intense moments, I didn’t think that the intensity was nonstop. It’s not that the film wasn’t suspenseful, I just don’t think the suspense is the main focus of the movie. It’s more about how bad things tend to happen when people make stupid desicions.
The visual aspects of this movie are incredible to look at. The intro and the outro of the film consist of nothing but swirling, saturated colors and abstract shapes, which was really different and unique. The camera shots and movements are very rough, and the quality can be grainy at times, which totally fits the style of the film.
The audio components of the film are also unique. The Safdie brothers made a very interesting choice in terms of how the dialogue is presented. Instead of someone saying a line and then another person responding to that line, people just talk over each other. This coupled with the bright visuals creates a very chaotic and loud atmosphere that never goes away throughout the entirety of the film. The score is trance-like and hypnotic, and uses lots of ambient electronic elements, whereas the songs chosen for the soundtrack are all hip-hop and dance tracks from the early 2010’s.
Uncut Gems takes place in the year 2012, and I don’t think they could’ve captured the fashion, music and scenery of that era more accurately. The way the film depicts New York City during that time is spot on. The movie also features Kevin Garnett and The Weeknd, who were both very prominent during that point in time.
One thing that everybody seems to be talking about when it comes to this film is Adam Sandler’s performance. There comes a time in this movie where it doesn’t even feel like you’re watching Adam Sandler anymore. He talks differently, he walks differently, he acts differently, and he looks differently. Aside from his performance in 2002’s Punch-Drunk Love, this is probably Sandler’s best acting yet. He totally becomes Howard Ratner, and after seeing the film, it’s hard to imagine anyone else filling that role.
I do have one small issue with the movie. I mentioned earlier that characters are always yelling over each other. On one hand, I really appreciated how tense and real it made the movie seem, but on the other hand, it also made the film a little hard to follow at times. After awhile, I almost got used to it, but still, there were a few moments that were slightly tricky to understand.
In the end, I had a great time with Uncut Gems. It feels incredibly surreal and odd while also being very realistic, and I really dug that. It’s gritty, intense, funny, and tragic all at once, and if you are interested in watching a total rollercoaster of a movie, this one would not be a bad choice.
Rating: R
Grade: A-
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