A Movie Review And Analysis Of Uncut Gems
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.
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.
Opinions and Perspectives
Found myself sympathizing with Howard despite his terrible choices.
Really showed how gambling addiction can destroy everything in your life.
I think the ending was perfect. Anything else would have felt dishonest.
This movie really shows how addiction affects everyone around you, not just yourself.
The foreshadowing was brilliant but subtle enough not to give anything away.
Never thought I'd be so invested in a movie about the diamond district.
The way they captured gambling addiction was spot on. The highs and lows felt real.
I've worked in sales and Howard's character felt frighteningly authentic.
The scene transitions were so seamless. Really kept the momentum going.
It's fascinating how they made a film about such an unlikeable character so engaging.
Found myself actually shouting at the screen several times. So frustrating yet compelling.
The way they built tension throughout was masterful. Never let up for a second.
I think this film works so well because it feels completely unpredictable throughout.
Interesting point about the fish symbolism. I missed that on my first viewing.
The pacing was relentless. Felt like I couldn't catch my breath the whole time.
Really appreciate how they didn't sugar coat anything. Raw and honest storytelling.
That final scene will stay with me forever. So brutal yet somehow perfect for the story.
Each rewatch reveals more layers to the story. It's incredibly well crafted.
Love how they didn't try to redeem Howard at the end. Stayed true to the character.
This movie gave me actual anxiety. I felt physically uncomfortable throughout.
The way they wove the basketball betting subplot through the story was genius.
I found myself holding my breath during so many scenes without even realizing it.
Watching Howard make one bad decision after another was like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
The sound design deserves more recognition. It really amplified the anxiety throughout the film.
Still can't believe this is the same Adam Sandler from Happy Gilmore. What a transformation.
The Safdie brothers really outdid themselves with this one. Good Time was great but this is another level.
I think people are missing the point about Howard being unlikeable. That's exactly what makes it such a powerful character study.
The way they portrayed addiction was so raw and realistic. No Hollywood glamorization.
That scene at the NBA practice facility really stuck with me. Shows how delusional Howard had become.
I've watched it three times and still notice new details. The layered storytelling is remarkable.
Never understood why people make such obviously bad decisions until I watched this. It really gets into the gambling addict mindset.
My heart was racing through the whole movie. I felt physically exhausted after watching it.
The fact that this took a decade to make really shows in the details. Every scene feels purposeful.
Fascinating how they balanced comedy with such intense drama. That scene with Gary the bookie was perfectly executed.
The ending hit me like a truck. I knew things wouldn't end well but still wasn't prepared.
Am I the only one who found the basketball scene particularly powerful? Really showed Howard's addiction mindset.
Those 150 script rewrites really paid off. The foreshadowing was brilliant, especially with the fish symbolism.
I disagree about Howard being unsympathetic. That's what made the character so compelling to me. We all know someone like him.
The way they captured the chaos of New York's diamond district was incredible. I felt like I was there.
Actually found it hard to sympathize with Howard. His self-destructive behavior was frustrating to watch.
The anxiety this movie gave me was unreal. I had to pause it multiple times just to catch my breath.
I was absolutely blown away by Sandler's performance in this. Never thought I'd see him in such an intense role!