Uncut Gems ★★★★ 1/2

Reviewed by Max Minardi on Episode 155

Josh and Benny Safdie, the directors of 2017’s “Good Time,” are at it again. “Uncut Gems,” is a crime drama starring Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner, a New York jeweler and gambling addict who, after one too many dicey decisions, finds himself mixed up in some questionable circumstances with “the wrong guys.” While this premise may initially sound like a tired idea for a screenplay, within the opening minutes, it becomes clear that “Uncut Gems” isn’t going to be your average crime caper. Elevated by a rare dramatic performance by Sandler, a pulsating, synthesizer-laden soundtrack composed by Daniel Lopatin, and an unwavering dedication to tension on the part of its directors, this film makes it clear that it’s audience is in for something very unique.

The Safdie brothers who both directed AND wrote the script for this again demonstrate an intimate understanding of their characters on the page and an incredible ability to see those characteristics manifested in their actors. Alongside Adam Sandler are a handful of familiar faces like Idina Menzel who plays Sandler’s wife Dinah, Lakeith Stanfield as Sandler’s associate Demany, Eric Bogosian plus many non-actors or newcomers with a notable breakout role by Julia Fox who plays Sandler’s girlfriend Julia- the only person with any respect for the guy and former NBA star Kevin Garnett.

Uncut Gems is a masterclass in character study. Like Connie (Robert Pattinson’s character from “Good Time”), Howard has an acute penchant for compulsion that continues to lead him down the various rabbit holes he finds. However, where Connie hoped to find a way out of his situation, Howard only seems interested in digging even deeper. Throughout the course of the film we watch helplessly as Howard makes worsening decisions, seemingly by the minute, but be it Sandler, inherent optimism on my part, or perhaps a bit of both, I couldn’t help rooting for him with each and every one. 

I was trying to think of a way to describe my viewing experience of this film and what I landed on was that it felt a lot like someone asking me to continually hold my breath while repeatedly kicking me in the shins. It’s RELENTLESS. From the opening scene where we are literally birthed through Howard’s colon during a procedure to the film’s final moments, I couldn’t find a moment to breathe. Upon leaving the theater, I found myself physically worn down in a way that I haven’t felt at the movies for a long time.