Uncut Gems (2019)
2019
R
136 Minutes
A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Howard must perform a precarious h...
User Review
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If Adam Sandler alone isn’t enough to hook you in on “Uncut Gems”, then it’s subject matter definitely will. It’s a sad, depressing, uncomfortable depiction on just how much ones greed and addiction can become the closest thing to a real-life horror movie you can imagine. The Safdie Brothers direction they took with this story highlights their understanding of their environments and the core aspects driving the story, the pacing is ridiculously fast, it has aggressive forward momentum with a highly frantic atmosphere, the editing is put together with extreme craftsmanship to where you feel the tension and anxiety of each situation while the beautiful cinematography pulls the viewer into the thick of it. Couple that with the spine-tingling direction of the story and Adam Sandler’s magnetic performance banter and you get a crime thriller flick that rarely even gets made anymore, at least not to this extent.
Sure, while there are other gems shining brightly in this movie, Sandler is the crown jewel that has to hold it all in place and as frightening and disturbingly accurate as this subject matter is on its own, something tells me it wouldn’t have had the same impact if he wasn’t in it. I think there’s only been about three or four movies this year that has brought up an issue on mental illnesses like this but perhaps not at this level, for there’s this electrified-fence feedback loop that exists here between the line of addiction and self-delusion and the movie captures that seething, excruciating and exhilarating adrenaline rush perfectly.
I think it’s safe to say we all owe you an apology, Adam. You might very well be a national treasure.1 member likes this review.
