Uncut Gems (2019)

Uncut Gems (2019)

A chaotic and intense Safdie brothers production.

Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars

Plot: NYC jewelry store owner Howard Ratner has huge gambling debts and a broken marriage. After loaning a smuggled opal to Kevin Garnett (yes, the basketball player) and taking his championship ring as collateral, he starts gambling big — on sports and on his own safety.

Opinion: This movie is frustrating and overstimulating to watch. Everyone is yelling and making horrible decisions the entire time. Adam Sandler goes beyond his usual comedic role but his character is still loud and over the top so I’m not sure the range he showed was as impressive as I anticipated.

I didn’t really enjoy watching the movie, but I admit that the tension was incredibly high so I was engaged. It also got an audible gasp out of me, so points for that. The problem is that there’s no one to like. You’re rooting for Sandler’s character while also knowing he’s a flawed guy that can’t seem to make a good decision. In the end, the constant tension can’t make up for the ultimate nihilism of the film.