Uncut Gems Review

Uncut Gems
Director: The Safdie Brothers
Cast Headliners: Adam Sandler, Idina Menzel, Julia Fox, Lakeith Stanfield, Eric Bogosian, Kevin Garnett
Original Release Date: December 13th, 2019(limited)

    One may not necessarily think of Adam Sandler as one who excels in the area of the drama. He is synonymous with silly juvenile comedies for the family that have gotten sillier with each passing iteration. However in the right hands he can be fantastic with a quality dramatic script. The Safdie Brothers, Josh and Benny Safdie, are known on the indie circuit for their distinct gritty style. Uncut Gems marries this two vastly-potential filled ingredients into something wonderful and weird. It's a movie that's like little else out there which will both delight but possibly unnerve the viewer.
       After a very trippy opening sequence which sets this distinct surreal atmosphere the film shows its setting of 2012 New York City where Howard Ratner(Adam Sandler) is an extremely mysterious Jewish jewelry shop owner with some debts to be paid and shady deals to be made. He balances  arrangements with customers of all types including literal NBA player Kevin Garnett(as himself) aided by associates in street life knowing Demany(Lakeith Stanfield) or his mistress / worker Julia(Julia Fox). He also struggles with a failing marriage with his wife Dinah(Idina Menzel) and a bounty on him by his brother-in-law Arno(Eric Bogosian).
     The movie has a script which manages to elevate mostly every actor involved from known to unknown (even surreal bit parts of The Weeknd and Wayne Diamond). Sandler's Howard is fantastic. It's such a different role for him from the lovable goof he's usually been on screen. Here he's more of a hatable goof. A goof in such a way , with dark rimmed glasses and garish gems of his own, it makes him that much more convincingly cunning and threatening. Sandler manages to crack a joke at times but it smartly comes off as more like uncomfortable attempts at breaking tension that it does pure laughs. One will fascinated at the depths this character will both go to and place layer upon layer of bets within.
   The other cast has some great chemistry, or stark hatred-filled lack thereof, within the piece. Menzel's Dinah isn't much explored but has her skilled dramatic moments. Stanfield's Demany moreso delivers exposition than anything but has his face-offs. Fox's Julia is a charming adultery partner to Howard with her own arc to play that improves as the film goes on. It's amazing how good KG is as an actor and one would hope for him to be in more. Bogosian's Arno is threatening, and his creepy thugs even moreso, althoug hall come off as too mysterious in their own ways at times or if not that a bit generically menacing in parts.
    However this is a film so much more about "style" over "substance" in an impressive way. Dialogue is best when its chaotically layered over itself in narrow jeweler's shops or narrow hallways. Contrastingly, action and chases are are their best when there's not much being said at all. The Safdies direction is fantastic whether as close as can be or with more sweeping shorts of New York (or rarely, elsewhere). The lighting has distinct neon touches in moments that give it a strong vibe helped so incredibly much by the music.
    The musical score by Daniel Lopatin is almost worth the price of admission on its own. The weird mix of retro synths and sometimes choir-like vocals gives the experience the true "experiential" aspect. This distinct vibe is so strong and these electronics are what make it in a fitting way for Howard's card shuffle of a life. Some decent pop / rap song usage happens as well.
       It's an experience worth having for oneself if they're willing to be uncomfortably on the edge of their seat in this trippy dramatic time where things are one wrong move away from totally collapsing at any given moment. Some things are repeated or don't erupt as much as they could or should but its identity is worth checking if one seems like its dark grit is appealing. Keep it up , both to mr-now-dramatic-sandler as too to the Safdies. 8.75 out of 10