Uncut Gems (Review)
Uncut Gems is a Diamond in the Rough.
Uncut Gems is easily one of the most stressful movies of the year. Not just because of star Adam Sandler’s threat to make a bad movie “on purpose” if he doesn’t win an Oscar for his performance in the film, but because it’s such a whirlwind of a film. Directors Benny and Josh Safdie have created what is essentially a cinematic shark, because Uncut Gems feels like if it ever stops moving it might drown. The audience is forced to watch a man’s life spiral out of control as he refuses to fight against his own inherent vices. At the end of the day, it’s a hard movie to watch with a character that it’s hard to feel bad for. I guess you could say that Uncut Gems is just a hard movie in general.
The film starts with us literally coming out of Howard Ratner’s (Adam Sandler) ass. It begins with him getting a colonoscopy that we get a pretty vivid front row seat to “enjoy.” This is oddly appropriate because for the next two hours of screen time Howard continues to pull stuff out of his ass (metaphorically this time). Howard is a man always looking for the next big score. A hopeless gambling addict, he owes money to some very dangerous people but keeps chasing the dream of winning big by placing the magic bet. It gets to a point where he’s so consumed with that dream, he ends up neglecting his wife (Idina Menzel) and mistress (Julia Fox). Things continue to fall apart as his business partner (LaKeith Stanfield) convinces him to “loan” a priceless opal to basketball superstar Kevin Garnett for luck. As soon as he does, everything starts to go wrong for Howard and he finds himself “robbing peter to pay paul” in order to keep his head above water.
First things first, Adam Sandler actually does a damn good job in Uncut Gems. His character is not one that we’re ever supposed to like at any point, which is pretty fortunate since I can’t simply forgive Sandler for all the horrible movies he’s inflicted on us in recent years. Still, my underlying resentment helped him to shape the character into one that refuses to see that he’s to blame for all the problems in his life even as he sobs about being such a victim. Greed is Howard’s greatest vice, and several times he has a lifeline in his hands but refuses to use it in hopes that a “better one” might just be one bet away. Sandler adopts an obnoxious “New York Jew” persona for the role, one where he tends to speak and act before he thinks, and then is shocked when there are consequences. While Howard might be impressive at juggling problems, he’s a man that is nowhere near as smart as he thinks he is, and that causes his descent to become steeper and steeper as Uncut Gems rolls on. Does he deserve an Oscar for his performance in the film? Eh, probably not. However, I think he does deserve a nod for devoting himself wholeheartedly to such a despicable role.
Sandler isn’t the only actor worth mentioning in Uncut Gems. He’s joined by a slew of talented actors. Of course, Stanfield and Menzel are tremendous, especially in the scene where they play off of Sandler’s high strung Howard. However, I think it’s important to note how many new faces appear in the film. Julia Fox springs to mind as Howard’s mistress who, for some reason, is head over heels in love with the man. The thing is that even though she feels out of his league every time they’re together, I can’t help believing her. In other words, she completely sells every aspect of her performance. Just as impressive are Tommy Kominik and Keith Williams Richards as the two goombas who are pressing Howard for the money he owes. Like Fox, I felt like I must have seen them somewhere before since they just seemed so natural on screen. All three of them are brand new to acting in movies, and I believe all three should be snatched up for future projects. Oh, and Garnett isn’t half bad either.
As I mentioned before, Uncut Gems is a very stressful film. What I mean is there’s so much going on, and Howard is constantly on the move so there’s never a moment to let the dust settle. However, it never feels as though it’s being rushed. Instead, the film harnesses the chaotic energy of life in New York City and channels it into the tale of one man slowly getting further and further in over his head. The Safdie brothers add to this with a lot of harsh, artificial lighting that emphasizes the contrast between dark and light in every shot. It’s also important to note that most of the film consists of close-ups of characters. This is a tool used to create a sense of claustrophobia that reflects how Howard constantly feels like the world is closing in. Toss in a few bloody and brutal moments, and Uncut Gems is hardly a “feel-good movie.” What it is, is an absolutely fascinating one from start to finish.
Uncut Gems is brilliant and brutal. It’s a movie that doesn’t have a hero. Rather, it has a man who is locked in a losing battle with his vices. Sandler delivers one of the best performances of his career and proves, once again, that comedians tend to be the best when it comes to dramatic roles. The Safdie brothers create an intense, yet timeless feel for the city with their 80s inspired sax and synthesizer-heavy soundtrack. That combined with their unique aesthetic creates a heavy mood that radiates from every frame of the film. Uncut Gems might be one of the better movies of 2019, but it also happens to be one of the hardest to watch. If you’re even slightly interested then you should definitely check it out. Once was enough for me though.
