Let’s not sugarcoat it. Adam Sandler gives the performance of his career in ‘Uncut Gems.’ Thanks to Josh and Benny Safdie, the directing brothers have brought him the perfect vehicle to show off his acting chops. I would not be surprised if he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He’s that good! It’s a character-driven story set in gritty New York City. The Safdie brothers get their inspiration from 1970s crime dramas. This is a frantically paced plot that takes you down the rabbit hole with the main character. The film will make you feel rattled and unsettled. Will he run out of luck? ‘Uncut Gems’ is a diamond in the rough and a must-see this awards season.
Set in 2012, the movie follows jewelry dealer Howard Ratner (Sandler) in New York’s diamond district. He’s good at what he does for a living. He sells bling to celebrity rappers and athletes. There is only one problem. Howard is a compulsive sports gambler. His addiction is so bad that goons follow him around New York in the hopes of intimidating him to pay off his debts. In search of his next big score, he acquires a rare black opal stone. His plan is to auction off the stone, make a ton of money and pay off his gambling debts. Things get complicated when his business partner Demany (Lakeith Stanfield) brings Celtics player Kevin Garnett to the store. When he sees the opal, he needs to have it as a good-luck charm. Howard loans it to him. Without the stone, Howard’s life seems to spiral out of control.
Besides goons following him around New York, Howard’s marriage is on the brink of divorce. His wife, Dinah (Idina Menzel) is fed up with him. Besides his family living in a nice home in Long Island, Howard finances a downtown apartment for his mistress, Julia (Julia Fox). Although Howard makes some really bad decisions in his life, Sandler manages to make the character likable. We care about the guy even though we don’t agree with his choices. That’s the sign of a good performance. You may think you’ve seen films like this before. It appears to be a cautionary tale about gambling addiction. It’s much more than that kind of story. It’s about a guy that loves the adrenaline rush of living on the edge. He places one reckless sports bet after another. He lies and promises his business associates IOUs. But when the buzzard sounds and the NBA playoffs start, Howard loves the stress of being addicted to gambling. He loves the euphoria.
It’s somewhat of a delusion to think that the next bet will change his life. It never does. He never really feels satisfied. The way he dresses shows us a good deal about his character. He wants people to know that he is rich and successful. He drives a Mercedes, he wears designer clothes, and he maintains properties in swanky neighborhoods. There is only one problem. He never finds time to spend with his loved ones. He’s too busy planning his next big score. The Safdie brothers use the uncut black opal stone as a McGuffin. It drives the plot forward. Howard is always trying to stay one step ahead of the debts he owes. At any moment, the thugs may lose their patience with him. He’s a fast talker that gets out of many dangerous jams. It’s a riveting film.
The Safdie brothers once again take the audience on a wild rollercoaster ride. You feel the tension along with the main character. Every time he makes another bad choice, you grimace. ‘Uncut Gems’ follows the style of another Safdie brothers’ film ‘Good Time’ starring Robert Pattinson. There is something special in the way they pull gut-wrenching performances from their actors. Be prepared to see an accurate depiction of sports gambling. Even if you’ve never placed a bet in your life, you will become an emotional hostage. You will walk away from ‘Uncut Gems’ impressed and repulsed. Now that’s a good crime drama, folks!
