Uncut Gems Movie Review

Adam Sandler in a serious role? I was most definitely intrigued and most definitely not disappointed. Uncut Gems has the distinct honor of being a shocking movie for me. I was blown away by many things about it, beginning with Adam Sandler turning in a surprisingly amazing performance.

I love Sandler just as much as the next person, but when going down the list of Hollywood actors who are consistently good, his name would be notably absent. I would more readily put him on the list of goofball comedians who are sometimes funny but other times plain stupid. I had to re-evaluate Sandler as an actor after seeing this movie.

Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a crass, fast-talking jeweler living in New York City. He is estranged from his wife Dinah (Idina Menzel) and their kids. He’s also involved in a sexual relationship with a “too young for him” woman named Julia (Julia Fox). Howard’s wheelings and dealings have caught up with him and he owes a lot of money to a lot of different people. That’s pretty much the plot. Howard is trying to hit it big so that he can pay off his debts.

This movie is fast paced and loud. There are so many ambient sounds in most scenes that you have to concentrate very hard to focus on the dialogue you really need to know. You are immediately dropped into scenes with very little reference or preamble. The shooting style is quick with as little information as possible shared in each scene. It makes you feel like you’re running throughout the whole movie and it was very, very effective for the storyline.

The movie does not end at all like I thought it would and I actually sat with my mouth open in silence after finishing it. It is thoroughly entertaining, at times violent, and often hectic. For some people, this might make it difficult to sit through. But if you can handle the rapid pace and sound overload, Uncut Gems is one hundred percent worth the watch. This is Sandler’s moment to shine. With this role he proves that he is actually a decent actor. I genuinely enjoyed watching him being the fast-talking, ridiculous, and ultimately hilarious Howard. Uncut Gems was a wild ride. Prepare yourself for a crazy ending.