Uncut Gems (Safdie, 2019):USA

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson. Viewed at the Telluride Film Festival at the Werner Herzog Theatre.

I had the good fortune of being at the 46th Telluride Film Festival and working in the Werner Herzog Theatre with a reserved seat. I didn’t know what to expect on Saturday afternoon, the 31st of August, 2019. But before I knew it….

Bam! Hard-hitting, independent filmmakers, Safdie Brothers, Josh and Benny, screened a frenetic film, Uncut Gems, starring, in an Oscar-caliber performance, funny-man Adam Sandler. The film is executively produced by legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, and was one of my favorite films at this year’s festival.

In Uncut Gems, Sandler plays a hustling, manic, charismatic Jewish jeweler, Howard Ratner, in New York City’s Diamond District. National Basketball Association’s future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett of the famed Boston Celtics, lends a supporting role with a remarkably cool performance as Ratner gets himself roiled into an ever-deepening crisis.

Think of Mean Streets in the Big Apple’s hustle and bustle of insatiable appetites and self-destructive behavior. Cinematographer Darius Khondji captures memorable visuals of the New York City skyline. The film’s narrative, however, belongs to Sandler via the Safdie Brothers. I found myself rooting for Ratner and then shook my head as the film’s tragic hero/anti-hero continued to hustle against all odds.

The musical score by Daniel Lopatin rocks. That’s all I can say. It rocks! Benny Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein edit the film so that it mimics the roller-coaster-ride narrative. The younger viewers were gaga during the film while the older generation seemed to be going bananas with the frenetic pacing. Nevertheless, the Safdie Brothers are perfecting their art. The production values are strong and the mise-en-scene provides an abundance of detail to the film’s character and to the film’s narrative.

In the Q & A following the film, Benny and Josh Safdie discussed their love of the fast-paced, New York City Diamond District vendors and confessed their infatuation with the Saul Bellow and Phillip Roth tragic-comic novels of the Jewish-American experience. And, interestingly, in the same vein as Joel and Ethan Cohen, the Safdies do all facets of filmmaking in collaboration. Admittedly, the Safdies knew from the start they had a winner with Sandler.

Sandler, known mainly for his comedic roles, also participated in the Q & A revealing he pushed both brothers hard on his character, Howard Ratner. The result is a highly sophisticated performance that will stand as one of, if not the very best, of Adam Sandler’s career. Hats off to casting team of Francine Maisler and Jennifer Venditti. Also, Mr. Sandler’s agent’s persistence in getting his client and the Safdie’s to meet, was noted and gratefully acknowledged by Sandler himself.

With a run time of two hours and fifteen minutes the film moves at an extraordinary pace. And when it ended, it left me wanting more. More Safdie Brothers and more Howard Ratner. The film is scheduled to be released by A24 into theatres on Christmas Day, December 25th. My recommendation is after you finish shopping, catch the matinee or after dinner see the evening show. Either way you won’t be disappointed. Very warmly recommended.

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You’re currently reading “Uncut Gems (Safdie, 2019):USA,” an entry on Student Film Reviews

Published:: 09.26.19 / 12am

Category:: Films, Telluride Film Festival

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Andrea Padilla 03.05.22 / 11am

Uncut gems was a very great film to watch. The way the actors fulfilled their characters’ roles was amazing. Adam Sandler is a well known actor in the film industry. We always see him in funny movies and to see him in a sort of depressed movie was very different. His character Howard is the owner of a small jewelry store in New York’s Diamond District. The more we watched the more we noticed about Howard. We find out he is married and has two kids, he is a cheater, and is a hard core gambler. We only see him get excited when he wins bets. The way you worded your review was great.Your description of Adam’s character was amazing. I agree the film was very fast paced and the way Benny and Josh Safdie produced this film left me wanting more.

Anahy Rodriguez 03.11.22 / 9am

Uncut Gems was an amazing and long movie to watch and Adam Sandler did a really great job playing the role of a crazy hustler in the jewelry-making industry. Throughout the film, we get the hint of his ambitiousness that often leads him to get stuck in avoidable situations. Everything about this film was really enjoyable and it was also pretty comedic since it starred Adam Sandler. I think Julia Fox delivered her character very well as playing the mistress. The characters were cast very well for their parts and delivered their character’s personalities very well.

Natalie Bautista 03.11.22 / 4pm

Uncut Gems is a great and chaotic film to watch. I love the storyline and how the film ended, it was a bit of a shocker but it was for the best of everyone in the film. Howard (Adam Sandlers), the owner of the jewelry story and the rare African opal was in deep debt with paying off everyone he owes. He was in deep trouble with most of the people around him and was getting beaten up. Howard brought so many problems to the storyline it was outrageous. Sandlers is one of the best actors that I love to watch, he has great humor and his acting is spotless. Watching this stressing me out but it was still a great film. It was definitely a high production film.

Jakobie Seabourn 03.11.22 / 9pm

Uncut Gems was a 10/10 film. We were able to get a legendary performance from the well known and respected Adam Sandler. For Adam Sandler to be able to step outside of the box of his usual comedic roles to a more serious role and nail it the way he did was a thing of beauty. There were times in the Film where Adam performed so good we almost forget he’s an actor and not a jeweler struggling to pay back his debt and to be a good father to his kids.After reading your review it’s a great thing to see that we agree Adam Sandler did an amazing job and completely left us with and unforgettable performance. In your review when you stated ” And when it ended, it left me wanting more. ” I immediately started to think of a part 2 but this time starring Julia Fox and taking over which I think could make for an interesting story. Nonetheless, Not having a part 2 and leaving it as the masterpiece it is also is a valid and respectable way for the movie to end.

Jakobie Seabourn 03.11.22 / 10pm

Gage Cross 03.12.22 / 11am

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this review from someone who was lucky enough to experience Uncut Gems in such a fashion. I fully agree with the statement of how the pace of this film is unmatched, the level of energy and inner ominous feeling the film provides goes hand in hand with the high-quality acting and production value. I have many friends that would rate this movie a 10 out of 10 and after reading this review that brought details that I had never known before to light, making it even better for me. I wish I also could’ve been there to see the premiere with a reserved seat.

Kimberly Ramos 03.16.22 / 9pm

I really appreciated this review of uncut gems. I think Adam Sandler was absolutely made for this role, and I agree the pace of the movie was incredible. I did not know that Martin Scorsese was the executive producer of this film but I am not surprised, there is definitely some Scorsese influence on it.

Rebeca Matehuala 03.24.22 / 10pm

Uncut Gems is an overwhelming and stressful film to watch. Adam Sandler did a great job in his role of Howard. It is very different from other roles he has played in the past, which makes it stand out. In the review it mentions he is “self-destructive”, although very true, I think that makes up most of his characters’ personalities. He seems to always be frantic and keeps himself busy by gambling with money he doesn’t have. The people he surrounds himself with play a huge role in who he is. Especially when he meets KG for the first time, he shifts to gambling even more and jewelry that is worth even more. He seems to always take risks and does not care much about the consequences. Aside from being a father with 3 children, he isn’t very present in their lives or even interested to be in it, all he cares about is money.

tony overstreet 04.02.22 / 9pm

I watch the movie Uncut Gems and they pick the right guy for this movie. he did good job playing his role Adam Sandler I was into this movie because I have a gambling problem myself and I also like to hustle too just like Adam Sandler in this movie he knows how to adapt. and they put kg the basketball player in this too I give this movie 10 out 10 hands down this movie were all about money. and this movie can teach you a lesson also but i really enjoyed this movie

Rodrigo Hernandez 04.02.22 / 11pm

Hi Larry, I enjoyed reading your ecstatic review of the film. I remember when I saw it for the first time in theatres, it was the most intense film experience I ever had in my life. After watching it, my friend and I had to take time to even relax and decompress from what went down on the screen. You said it best with Sandler’s oscar-caliber performance, he was most definitely snubbed by The Academy for that role. He carries the entire film with such passion and ferocity that you as the viewer never feel like the film drags for even a second. It is funny to see Uncut Gems getting some buzz again following the meme of Julia Fox, but I am hopeful that more folks will watch the film along with other projects by the Safdie Bros. Another one of my favorites by the directorial duo is “Good Time” which has a very similar vibe and pace to “Uncut Gems.”

Finn Judge 06.04.22 / 11pm

I really liked this movie and Adam Sandler was a great representation of what the character would act like. I would say that most of the actors in this movie played their character perfectly to the point that I forgot that they were even acting. I agree that it was an extremely fast paced movie that represented the streets of the New York Diamond District very well. The Jewish-American experience made it so that it added a little bit of a family aspect to he movie which was pretty important. It was one of Adam Sandler’s best performances in any movie he has ever done.

Jesus Lopez 07.09.22 / 10pm

While Uncut Gems is a two hour movie just like New York City it is a quick experience. The Safdie brothers were able to beautifully portray the fast paced nature of New York City while still telling a comprehensible story. It hooks you in from the very beginning all the way until the climax at the very end of the movie. I agree that this is probably the best performance that Adam Sandler has put on the big screen. With Adam mostly doing comedic roles this performance will most likely stand the test of time and be one of the gems of his career.

Matthew Mitchell 07.16.22 / 12pm

After watching the film Uncut Gems, I was completely satisfied with everything that went down in the film. Adam Sandler played an amazing role as the hustler jewelry store owner that consistently gamble unnecessarily and unclaimed money. With the creation of the film, I thought that it was very well rounded with a climax that seems to be different than other films that I have watched in the past. The ending left me a bit confused but did not at all take away from the satisfaction that it brought me. Overall, Uncut Gems was a very great film, and would highly recommend.

Riley Carter 07.23.22 / 11pm

I really enjoyed Uncut Gems. I loved how you explained it as an “ever deepening crisis”. This is so true. The suspense and frustration kept building and building as Howard gambled so heavily on his deals. Adam Sandler executed his role as a charismatic jeweler, it was a step out of his regular roles but it was a great chance for him to prove that he can perform more complex roles than his regular comedic films. The movie continued to build more and more, and caught me off guard with a very unexpected ending. I really enjoyed this film and would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about watching it.

Anthony Jimenez 10.20.22 / 8pm

I really did enjoy this movie Uncut Gems. This was a film that really did you as the audience on your feet and wondering what was going to happen next. Getting to look into the life of New York diamond district and how greed can control over someone’s life to the point of paying the price for it. Adam Sandler is known for his goofy comedic roles, but he stepped out of his box and took on this role. The role of Howard Ranter, and he was the perfect person to take on this role which I enjoyed seeing him do and give his fans a taste of a new way of acting that he can do. The whole movie is a mind twister and wonders what will happen next, but the ending for me was the biggest jaw dropping moment. To see he that had struck luck and to have his life end in an instant was truly mind blowing to me. I highly recommend this movie for others to watch.

Jordan Jones 11.03.22 / 6pm

Uncut gems was an absolute incredible movie with having a setting like it was in New York City just made it even better. Adam Sandler was the perfect role for this position and feel like it up the ratings on this movie with him being the repeated actor he is. playing the part of a gambling man but gambling money that he doesn’t have access too and still taking that risk.

Richard Desales 03.16.23 / 3pm

Hi Larry, Uncut gems greatest contribution for me was the setting and props. I also like how you said Benny Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein edit the film so that it mimics the roller-coaster-ride narrative. The editing in this movie was defiantly noticeable in a great way. Thank you for providing further information with the Q&A.

Andres Ulloa 06.24.23 / 4pm

Hello there, I really enjoyed reading your review of the film “Uncut Gems” and also enjoyed watching this film. I believe that the film at first is portrayed in a manner that doesn’t target the right audience. I myself am a huge NBA fan and didn’t see the appeal for this movie until I watched it. Seeing NBA players like Kevin Garnett play a role in Sandler’s characters role was amazing to watch. I enjoyed that in your review you credited the music that was played in the movie to give it its props. Overall, I enjoyed your review in which I believe everyone should read after watching the film!

Riley Franken 10.19.23 / 1pm

If someone were to tell me the plot of the movie prior to seeing this, and then tell me the lead role is Adam Sandler, I would have been very confused. I was proven very wrong after seeing this movie. Adam Sandler is now the only actor I could see playing this role. He did it effortlessly and knocked it out of the park. The storyline was captivating, and the casting and setting checked all the correct boxes. I really enjoyed this film, and reading your review on it.

Daniel Martinez 10.20.23 / 6pm

Hey Larry,

I enjoyed reading your review on the film Uncut Gems. Knowing the kind of roles that Adam Sandler usually does, you wouldn’t expect him to be casted for a role of a jeweler in the diamond district. I believe that he did a very good job at playing this role even though it’s something different than what he’s used to. I agree with you that the “mise-en-scene provides an abundance of detail to the film’s character and to the film’s narrative”. I think it plays a very big role in the movie and helps the audience feel more in tune with what’s going on.

Riley Stiles 03.02.24 / 12pm

Hello Larry!
I enjoyed reading your review of Uncut Gems. My first thought while starting the movie was, “is this really a thriller?”. Due to Adam Sandler’s past work and films I was not expecting the acting to be as great as it was given the genre of the film. The casting choices were most interesting to me as not only as you put it “funny-man” Adam Sandler was chosen for this unlikeable sort of self indulgent role, but also an actual NBA player, but it all worked so well. I didn’t really process it until I read your review, but the music definitely played a large part in adding to the mise-en-scene of this film as well.

Scarlet Burnes 03.02.24 / 6pm

Hi Larry,
This is an amazing review of Uncut Gems. I really appreciated how you were able to include your personal experience of the screening and the Q&A. I agree with you about the music score. I felt it deserved a 10/10. Daniel Lopatain did such an amazing job escalating the anxiety and suspense of the film through the soundtrack. I found what you had to say about Adam Sandler asking the Safdies Bros. to push his character really interesting.
Scarlet

Sebastian Conchas 03.02.24 / 8pm

Hello,
I appreciate your review! I really enjoyed uncut gems. So many intense scenes, making your palms sweaty and making your sling feel tight all the time. I agree with you how the music plays major part in mise-en-scene and also how it can make you feel sedated at time with some of the soundtracks. I do appreciate Adam Sandler doing this type of role not his usual roles known for comedic like you mentioned.

Justin Escamilla 03.13.24 / 7pm

Hey Larry! I liked your review on uncut gems. Toward the end of your review, you talk about how Adam Sandler normally stars in comedy movies. But oh my how he crushed this role. I agree with you on this being one, if not the best of his performances. I also really enjoyed how you mentioned how fast-paced it is for a 2-hour and 15-minute-long movie. The movie felt fast but jam-packed so many great scenes in it. Do you think if Adam Sandler picked up another serious role (preferably another based in NYC), do you think he would be able to perform as he did in uncut gems? I would love to see him pick up another role like this. Thanks for sharing Larry!

Alex Gonzalez 03.15.24 / 12am

I thought this film was great, the quick pace mixed with Howard’s self-destructive actions made it hard to watch but I could not look away. The film has a way of pushing and pulling the viewer that keeps them on the edge of their seat. you mentioned the mise-en-scene in your review and I believe that it’s very strong in this movie. The sets combined with Sandlers look and performance made me feel like I was there with Howard following him as he ran through the diamond district. This movie was great because even as we see what a bad person Howard is we still root for him. With that being said I’m not surprised it ended how it did. This movie serves as a cautionary tale for addiction but it definitely made me want to go bet on a basketball game.

Tristan Bejarano 03.15.24 / 10pm

Uncut Gems was a masterclass of a movie. The acting performance of Adam Sandler was one of his best yet. We have seen him play the game kind of role for so many movies. The change of character really contributed to the filmThe use of sound made this movie amazing. Each song creates a different emotion getting you hooked into the movie. The fast-paced rhythm of the film allows you to be entertained throughout the entire movie. Although the lifestyle of this movie won’t be completely relatable to most people, the characteristics of each person will give you realism and connection towards them.

Diego Garcia 03.23.24 / 11pm

Uncut Gems was a treat to watch, seeing Adam Sandler in a more serious role was very interesting but odd at the same time, I was not used to him being in a role like this but he killed it. His work as Howard was amazing, his acting made Howard’s issues stand out more than they were originally shown. He makes such a believable gambling-addicted maniac. I also agree with your take on the music score. It for sure is one of the highlights of the movie. Also, the way the movie is fast-paced makes it more immersive when you watch it.

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