Directed by Benny and Josh Safdie
Written by Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein 
Starring Adam Sandler, Julia Fox and Kevin Garnett
Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes 
MPAA Rating:  R for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport 

“The beauty of betting.”

A key takeaway from Good Time and Uncut Gems is that I will never turn to the Safdie brothers when I am seeking a relaxing night at the cinema. 

Their latest flick is more than just anxiety riddled, it is a god damn nail biter. Along with their fondness of creating the feeling of uncertainty, the siblings seem to have a thing for the sleaze. The focus of Uncut Gems is Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner in New York City with a magnetic personality. Unfortunately, a run-in with Howard is more trouble than it is worth as this guy is not only surrounded by inconveniences, but creates them too. To know a guy like Howard is a reason to carry a flask of whiskey and ensure you are prescribed to blood pressure medicine.

Howard spends his life living on the edge via gambling. This is not a person that believes in playing it safe, despite nothing ever seeming to go his way. Howard is the epitome of a dumpster fire. Everyone is out to get him (this includes some mafia dudes), he owes money all over town, he might have colon cancer, his marriage is on the rocks and his kids despise him. Regardless, he really doesn’t seem to give a damn. His only concern is the next big score.

Similar to Good Time (a wild story of a robbery gone wrong), the world created within Uncut Gems is not one that I enjoy to be in. These are not great people, but they sure as heck are a captivating show to watch. These are stories and characters that I would not have come up with in my wildest dreams. To me, the Safdies are movie magicians as they have the power to bring me into their film. They have the ability to make me genuinely care about characters that I would not have an interest in otherwise. Their filmmaking style and techniques manage to induce a strong reaction. In my film watching scenario of Uncut Gems, I spent the majority of it rocking back n’ forth in my movie seat and drenched in a puddle of sweat. I apologize to my seat mate, Ryan Silberstein. Although, for anyone that knows me personally, this situation is no surprise. My perspiration is no laughing matter and there is much truth when I say that I may have descended from the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Even with all the angst and nervousness the film may have caused me, there is no doubt that this movie will end up on one of those year-end lists that I painfully force myself to make (*note: nobody wants my rant about year-end lists… or maybe you do?). There is a diamond encrusted Furby for Christ sakes and a basketball player turned actor, Kevin Garnett carrying a gem around with the mindset it has mystical powers. This is a story that one has to see to believe. It goes to those unexpected places and, in the end, you’ll most likely find yourself clamoring for more. It is absolutely wild ride and my only hope is that the Safdies are never tamed. Sorry to break it to the brothers, but they have now set the expectation that every film will be more berserk than the next.

It has been seventeen years since Adam Sandler actually showed up to work. Ya know, that time he punched in to make Punch-Drunk Love. Sandler may have fooled me with The Cobbler but I’m on to him now. For every good flick he makes, he blesses us with dozens of atrocities, but when he is on he is absolutely great.