The most underrated skill that the incredibly talented Safdie brothers have is turning their actors into absolute powerhouses. Not that I ever doubted Adam Sandler's ability to turn in a dramatic role, but I can honestly say that I was not expecting something of this magnitude. Uncut Gems is an utter thrill ride, chock full of the Safdies' exhilarating filmmaking style that quite literally never eases up or lets go. I have not been this full of anxiety waiting for each coming scene since I first saw Whiplash and the frustration that comes with the story and the choices that this lead character makes all come together to make such an exciting experience. With the help of a career-best performance from Sandler and an entrancing score, the powerful direction from the Safdies draws the audience in and throws them deep in the diamond district of New York, never stopping for breath until the credits start to roll. This is the last film of 2019 that I have been genuinely excited for and I can say, without a doubt, that it has easily become one of the best of this entire year.
Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a jeweler and diamond dealer in the bustling heart of New York City whose clientele includes the likes of NBA superstar Kevin Garnett. When Howard gets a shipment of a rare, Ethiopian gem that is worth over a million dollars, he lends it out to Garnett to bring him luck during his championship run. Passed around by an endless slew of characters and getting deeper into trouble, Howard has to fight to resolve everything in his life which is quickly getting out of hand. The Safdie brothers' direction throughout this film is what truly makes it stand out among other crime thrillers. Continuing their relentlessly uneasy style of filmmaking from 2017's Good Time, the direction from them makes this movie such a transcendent film to watch. The absolutely unfiltered, uncut chaos that courses through every scene is masterfully handled by them and I could not sit and breathe until the very end. I was hooked from the very first scene and even in supposedly calm scenes like the dinner party or the Ratner children's play, I was riddled with this feeling of knowing something was going to go wrong. This is definitely the defining feature of Uncut Gems and this also has to do with the fantastic editing from Benny Safdie himself and Ronald Bronstein, a frequent collaborator of the brothers. The way that they cut these scenes (and the gems, hehe) is fantastic and causes even more chaos for the audience to manage. The extremely hectic style that is transferred from filming to the edit is phenomenal. This film simultaneously terrified me of what might happen to Howard while enthralling me because I was so invested in his deals and could not help but to root for him.
I am not a fan of basketball nor do I know anything about the jewelry and gem industry but this film sure made me feel like I did. The Safdies' world-building is unparalleled in how well they are able to involve their audience in this film. The inclusion of Kevin Garnett and the Celtics basketball team was obviously a huge factor in this but the way that they incorporated their 2012 season into the plot of this film while still making it one of the best, modern crime thrillers is amazing. And when it comes to the dialogue and development surrounding the gems, I again had no idea what Howard was rattling off about in the scenes in his showcase of a store. This script does a great job of throwing viewers into the madness without any warning or sense of what these characters are like but the pure adrenaline rushing throughout these characters makes them all stand out as well. My theater during this film had a lot of great energy and by the time the utterly shocking conclusion came, it was obvious that we all shared the same tension and emotion towards Howard and his conflicts. Another huge part of this movie is the wild use of sound design. Just like in Good Time, the audio fueling this movie is absolute mayhem that feels like a million things going on at once. This sound design seems to be endlessly layered, which provides Uncut Gems with a huge part of its charm. This controlled chaos also says a lot about the Safdies' direction because as long as an audience member is actually invested into this crazy world, it is more than easy to make sense of the nonstop madness.
One of the most impressive aspects of this film, along with its mesmerizing direction, is the powerhouse of a performance from Adam Sandler. He has proven himself to be an absolute god among actors and I frankly would not be surprised if he could easily snag a nomination for this jaw-dropping role. Throughout the course of this entire story, I was never watching Adam Sandler: I was watching Howard Ratner. Sandler is nearly unrecognizable in this role, both in how fashionable he dresses and how fucking frustrating he makes every scene. The character of Howard is one that I could not see anyone but Sandler playing and while Howard is a bit too much of an asshole at times, there is an undeniable love that he portrays, both in his business and his family. The uncensored anger that I felt towards Howard is only elevated by his ridiculous choices but his ruthless, business side is what makes him so compelling. He only ever wanted to make things right by going about everything in a convoluted way and this led to such an interesting plot to follow along with. The supporting performances in this film are amazing too. Kevin Garnett was surprisingly solid and Lakeith Stanfield turns in another unforgettable performance but the main standout for me was Julia (Julia Fox). Her performance as Howard's mistress and eventual business partner was amazing and I can not wait to see the range of what she has to offer as an actress. More than anything, though, Uncut Gems is definitely a film worthy of a group experience and I can guarantee that everyone will leave changed people.
Uncut Gems is the most exciting film of this year, along with being one of my most anticipated. Adam Sandler works best when he is acting in a film not written or directed by himself and this movie is yet another example. The Safdies have worked an absolute miracle, turning this story and performance that honestly should not have worked into a masterpiece. I highly recommend this film and would also suggest taking some strong anxiety meds long beforehand.
My Rating: ★★★★½
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