A Movie Review And Analysis Of Uncut Gems

"Let's Bet On It" - Adam Sandler
entertainment · 4 min
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If we had to describe one 12-month period of filmmaking, 2019 would definitely be the year of the shocking character moments. From Waves' heartbreaking, mid-movie gut punch; to Parasite's hidden, below-the-surface reveal; to Joker's brutal, scorched-earth finale; to Avengers: Endgame's climactic, heroic sacrifice; 2019 movies were abundant in powerful, unexpected twists.

uncut gems movie review

But perhaps no narrative beat felt as visceral, tragic, and gasp-inducing as the conclusion of Uncut Gems. The film, a relentless, no-holds-barred crime thriller, was written and directed by brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, who made a name for themselves after helming 2017's Good Time, another nerve-racking New York City crime movie.

And while Good Time was an imaginative, if-at-times disjointed story, Uncut Gems is the Safdies' magnum opus; a dark character study that will have audiences clinging to the edges of their seats, and ultimately left stunned and at a loss for words.

Josh and Benny spent a decade crafting Uncut Gems, explaining that they went through over 150 rewrites of the script.

The story follows Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a self-centered, manipulative, and impulsive jewelry store owner, who, because of his severe gambling addiction, must perform an increasingly improbable, chaotic race against time in order to pay back a group of menacing loan sharks, all while balancing other mounting financial burdens and crumbling family life.

Uncut Gems succeeds by going against the grain of conventional Hollywood-style filmmaking, reveling in the grittiness of its challenging subject matter, as well as focusing on an unflattering, anti-hero protagonist and supporting characters whose moralities are as equally untethered and questionable.

The movie, which contains so much narrative foreshadowing and blink-and-you'll-miss-them character details, demands multiple viewings to truly appreciate its brilliant, multilayered script.

In one particularly well-written scene, Howard barges into the middle of an NBA practice facility, steals a basketball, and dribbles up the court, commentating as though he were a player in a real game. Without regard to anyone else at the scrimmage, Howard hits a shot, loudly stating that he (the player) has to score. Just moments later, he proudly jogs over to an agitated Demany (Lakeith Stanfield), his business partner, who denies him access to the locker room, leaving Howard feeling defeated and standing alone.

This scene, although brief, is emblematic of the film's larger themes, and illustrates the Safdies' remarkable ability to utilize every frame and line of dialogue to tell a grand, overarching narrative.

Howard Ratner is a compulsive gambler, so upon exclaiming that he can't possibly help himself from scoring (betting), the character is revealing a lot about his own deep-seated issues. No matter how much he loses or how low the odds are, Howard will always chase a new gambling high, each one grander and more dangerous than the last.

Howard's ultimate demise is foreshadowed heavily throughout the length of the film, both through sharp dialogue and effective visual cues.

Phil (Keith Williams Richards), one of the main debt collectors, tells Howard early on that he will shovel the dirt over his gravesite, and is the one who ends up shooting Howard dead in the movie's closing moments.

The film references "sleeping with the fishes," a common mob idiom for death. On one occasion, Howard receives a precious black opal gem, an item that is shipped quite literally inside a box of dead fish. In another instance, Howard tries to save his pet fish, but it ends up dying.

Much of what makes Uncut Gems so compelling is the film's balance of hard-hitting dramatic tension with gut-busting dark comedy. The Safdies recognize that individuals fluctuate between an array of emotional states, which is why their commitment to both seriousness and levity helps ground the film, establishing a sense of realism.

When Howard asks Gary (Mike Francesa), his bookie, to place a high-stakes bet, Gary bluntly states that it's the most nonsensical wager he's ever heard of. An unperturbed Howard, with a toothy smile, gleefully counters that he disagrees, before pausing and repeating, with the same blissful tone, "I disagree Gary," and walks away with a sense of accomplishment.

Howard fails to comprehend the scope of the danger that surrounds him, a factor which only becomes exacerbated as he takes on risk after risk, leading to his eventual downfall.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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RyanB commented RyanB 3 years ago

The ending still haunts me.

8
TalkShow_Guru78 commented TalkShow_Guru78 3 years ago

Every scene felt necessary to the story.

0
InfinityLoop commented InfinityLoop 3 years ago

Such a raw portrayal of addiction.

1
Hannah-Rogers commented Hannah-Rogers 3 years ago

The editing really enhanced the anxiety.

8
Greta_Spring commented Greta_Spring 3 years ago

Love how they maintained the tension throughout.

3
Kristin-Bush commented Kristin-Bush 3 years ago

The character interactions felt so real.

0
InfinityNomad commented InfinityNomad 3 years ago

Really showed the ripple effects of addiction.

3
DramaQueen_Emma commented DramaQueen_Emma 3 years ago

The pacing never let up for a second.

1
Azalea99 commented Azalea99 3 years ago

Fascinating how they made gambling so visceral and intense.

2
TinsleyJ commented TinsleyJ 3 years ago

The way they portrayed New York felt so authentic.

3
CelestialNomadX commented CelestialNomadX 3 years ago

The supporting cast really brought the world to life.

1
Conscious_Choices_99 commented Conscious_Choices_99 3 years ago

Never seen tension built so effectively in a film.

1
Emma_J commented Emma_J 3 years ago

The dialogue felt so natural and unscripted.

1
ScarlettKing commented ScarlettKing 3 years ago

Each viewing reveals new layers to the story.

5
Madilyn-Martinez commented Madilyn-Martinez 3 years ago

The way they built up to that ending was masterful.

5
Ava-Davis commented Ava-Davis 3 years ago

Really captured the desperation of addiction.

7
Eliza_Star commented Eliza_Star 3 years ago

The character development was subtle but effective.

1
PeytonS commented PeytonS 3 years ago

Love how they didn't try to moralize or preach about addiction.

6
RavenJ commented RavenJ 3 years ago

The basketball betting scenes were particularly well done.

6
Eleanor_56 commented Eleanor_56 3 years ago

Actually felt physically stressed watching this movie.

2
TrainWithPassion commented TrainWithPassion 4 years ago

The script was so tight. Every scene served a purpose.

5
Hibberd_Highlights commented Hibberd_Highlights 4 years ago

Found myself sympathizing with Howard despite his terrible choices.

8
GravityShifterX commented GravityShifterX 4 years ago

The way they captured NYC's energy was perfect.

6
Kroll_Keynotes commented Kroll_Keynotes 4 years ago

Really showed how gambling addiction can destroy everything in your life.

7
CalebThomas commented CalebThomas 4 years ago

The scene pacing reminded me of a thriller more than a drama.

4
CineCriticX commented CineCriticX 4 years ago

Every performance felt so authentic. No weak links in the cast.

5
Daily_Affirmations_24 commented Daily_Affirmations_24 4 years ago

The way they balanced humor with tension was incredible.

1
SoulHealing_Path commented SoulHealing_Path 4 years ago

Still picking up on new details after multiple viewings.

6
Blitzer_Brief commented Blitzer_Brief 4 years ago

I think the ending was perfect. Anything else would have felt dishonest.

7
Eliza-Nash commented Eliza-Nash 4 years ago

The attention to detail in every scene is remarkable.

6
BandMerch_Addict_66 commented BandMerch_Addict_66 4 years ago

This movie really shows how addiction affects everyone around you, not just yourself.

0
Daisy-Ferguson commented Daisy-Ferguson 4 years ago

The foreshadowing was brilliant but subtle enough not to give anything away.

6
Hollywood_Legend_Obsessed commented Hollywood_Legend_Obsessed 4 years ago

Never thought I'd be so invested in a movie about the diamond district.

2
Fritz_Focus commented Fritz_Focus 4 years ago

The way they captured gambling addiction was spot on. The highs and lows felt real.

1
ParallelSurfer commented ParallelSurfer 4 years ago

I've worked in sales and Howard's character felt frighteningly authentic.

2
Helena-Franklin commented Helena-Franklin 4 years ago

The scene transitions were so seamless. Really kept the momentum going.

2
Leo commented Leo 4 years ago

Hard disagree about Howard being purely unlikeable. He's deeply flawed but human.

7
MidnightGhost commented MidnightGhost 4 years ago

The cinematography really puts you right in the middle of the chaos.

7
ViralVideo_King_33 commented ViralVideo_King_33 4 years ago

It's fascinating how they made a film about such an unlikeable character so engaging.

7
IndieFilmNerd_45 commented IndieFilmNerd_45 4 years ago

Found myself actually shouting at the screen several times. So frustrating yet compelling.

4
AstralNomad commented AstralNomad 4 years ago

The way they built tension throughout was masterful. Never let up for a second.

1
GlitchMasterX commented GlitchMasterX 4 years ago

Just watched it for the third time and I'm still noticing new details.

3
Autumn_Sun commented Autumn_Sun 4 years ago

The dialogue felt so natural and realistic. Really captured that NYC vibe.

0
StarGazerX commented StarGazerX 4 years ago

I think this film works so well because it feels completely unpredictable throughout.

7
Colton commented Colton 4 years ago

Everyone's talking about Sandler but the whole cast was incredible.

1
Eva-Murray commented Eva-Murray 4 years ago

Interesting point about the fish symbolism. I missed that on my first viewing.

8
MarvelGeek99 commented MarvelGeek99 4 years ago

The pacing was relentless. Felt like I couldn't catch my breath the whole time.

1
TheDarkKnightRises commented TheDarkKnightRises 4 years ago

Really appreciate how they didn't sugar coat anything. Raw and honest storytelling.

5
KaitlynX commented KaitlynX 4 years ago

I've never seen addiction portrayed so realistically in a film before.

5
PopStar_Fanatic2022 commented PopStar_Fanatic2022 4 years ago

That final scene will stay with me forever. So brutal yet somehow perfect for the story.

2
Elaine_ShootingStar commented Elaine_ShootingStar 4 years ago

Each rewatch reveals more layers to the story. It's incredibly well crafted.

7
Film_Editor_Pro99 commented Film_Editor_Pro99 4 years ago

Love how they didn't try to redeem Howard at the end. Stayed true to the character.

2
Melody_Grace commented Melody_Grace 4 years ago

This movie gave me actual anxiety. I felt physically uncomfortable throughout.

5
Robot_Overlord_Fan77 commented Robot_Overlord_Fan77 4 years ago

The way they wove the basketball betting subplot through the story was genius.

7
UrbanShadows commented UrbanShadows 4 years ago

I found myself holding my breath during so many scenes without even realizing it.

4
SerotoninSeeker commented SerotoninSeeker 4 years ago

Watching Howard make one bad decision after another was like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

2
Eliana_Wood commented Eliana_Wood 4 years ago

The sound design deserves more recognition. It really amplified the anxiety throughout the film.

2
Lillian-Claire commented Lillian-Claire 4 years ago

Still can't believe this is the same Adam Sandler from Happy Gilmore. What a transformation.

0
EcoChicWellness commented EcoChicWellness 4 years ago

The Safdie brothers really outdid themselves with this one. Good Time was great but this is another level.

0
Caleb_1993 commented Caleb_1993 4 years ago

I think people are missing the point about Howard being unlikeable. That's exactly what makes it such a powerful character study.

3
SelfLoveWorkout commented SelfLoveWorkout 4 years ago

The way they portrayed addiction was so raw and realistic. No Hollywood glamorization.

6
Brianna-Price commented Brianna-Price 4 years ago

Honestly couldn't finish it. The stress levels were too much for me.

8
UpliftAndInspire commented UpliftAndInspire 4 years ago

That scene at the NBA practice facility really stuck with me. Shows how delusional Howard had become.

3
DCUniverse_Fanboy commented DCUniverse_Fanboy 4 years ago

I've watched it three times and still notice new details. The layered storytelling is remarkable.

3
Joanna_Flare commented Joanna_Flare 4 years ago

Never understood why people make such obviously bad decisions until I watched this. It really gets into the gambling addict mindset.

4
Streaming_Addict2023 commented Streaming_Addict2023 4 years ago

My heart was racing through the whole movie. I felt physically exhausted after watching it.

3
Summer-Norman commented Summer-Norman 4 years ago

The fact that this took a decade to make really shows in the details. Every scene feels purposeful.

6
ZeroHourX commented ZeroHourX 4 years ago

I actually had to look away during some scenes. The tension was unbearable.

4
WinonaX commented WinonaX 4 years ago

Fascinating how they balanced comedy with such intense drama. That scene with Gary the bookie was perfectly executed.

7
LexiS commented LexiS 4 years ago

This film stressed me out more than any horror movie I've ever watched.

5
Film_Trivia_Genius_2023 commented Film_Trivia_Genius_2023 4 years ago

The ending hit me like a truck. I knew things wouldn't end well but still wasn't prepared.

6
VortexRider commented VortexRider 4 years ago

Am I the only one who found the basketball scene particularly powerful? Really showed Howard's addiction mindset.

8
Robinson_Review commented Robinson_Review 4 years ago

Those 150 script rewrites really paid off. The foreshadowing was brilliant, especially with the fish symbolism.

5
Taibbi_Talk commented Taibbi_Talk 4 years ago

I disagree about Howard being unsympathetic. That's what made the character so compelling to me. We all know someone like him.

4
JoyfulJourney commented JoyfulJourney 4 years ago

The way they captured the chaos of New York's diamond district was incredible. I felt like I was there.

4
BrandonBuilds commented BrandonBuilds 4 years ago

Actually found it hard to sympathize with Howard. His self-destructive behavior was frustrating to watch.

3
HenryMartinez commented HenryMartinez 4 years ago

The anxiety this movie gave me was unreal. I had to pause it multiple times just to catch my breath.

1
IntergalacticNomad commented IntergalacticNomad 4 years ago

I was absolutely blown away by Sandler's performance in this. Never thought I'd see him in such an intense role!

7

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