Uncut Gems is the story of Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), the owner of a high-price, independently owned jewelry store in NYC in 2012. When we first meet him, his life has started a downward spiral that only gets worse as the film continues. He is in the middle of a nasty break-up with his wife, Dinah (Idina Menzel), has been screwing a gorgeous employee of his, Julia (Julia Fox), and has been scrambling to re-pay some vicious loan sharks, Arno (Eric Bogosian), Phil (Keith Williams Richards), and Nico (Tommy Kominik). When Howard comes into possession of a rock filled with uncut Opals, he sees a way out of his predicament. Unfortunately, the rock is swiped and Howard has to scramble to find a way to retrieve it.
Idina Menzel is a lot of fun as Howards' pissed-off housewife, Dinah, who is trying to break-up with him throughout the film. It's clear that she is tired of him and his ways, and the looks she continually gives Howard are hilarious (if looks could kill!). Julia Fox plays the drop-dead gorgeous Julia, an employee of Howard's jewelry store that he has been sleeping with on the side. She's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, but is sweet, sexy, and very fond of Howard. She lights up the screen whenever she is on. Before Uncut Gems, Julia Fox was a photographer and model, and this is her first acting gig (You would never guess, she is brilliant here). Kevin Garnett is very entertaining as himself. He is obsessed with Howard's rock, and seems to think it has magical powers (hence why he swipes it). The whole cast does a fantastic job, but make no mistake, this is the Adam Sandler show, and he shines here like it's nobodies business.
Adam Sandler plays our protagonist, Howard, one of the best characters of 2019. Howard is very unlucky, but this is due in large part to his inability to make good decisions. He is awful with money, and tends to immediately spend whatever cash he is able to get his hands on. Howard also has no issues with conning, scamming, and lying to people if he feels the situation calls for it. He is a fairly selfish person, but is still very likable and entertaining (He feels like someone you would meet in real life). Howard is continually shit-on and disrespected by everyone he comes into contact with (from his wife, to a buddy of his played by Lakeith Stanfield, to Kevin Garnett, etc). While it's not like he doesn't deserve the treatment, it's hard not to feel bad for the guy all the same. Sandler throws himself into the role with gusto, and takes a sleazy character and makes him immensely likable. It's not hard to root for Howard to find a way out of the various messes he entangles himself in. This is easily Sandler's best performance to date, and he is downright magnetic here. It's like he's on a whole 'nother level.
It's not very often that you come across a film that you know is special right from the opening scenes, but Uncut Gems is special indeed. The cinematography by Darius Khondji is psychedelic at times and consistently impressive. The score by Daniel Lopatin is unlike anything I have heard in a movie theater in quite some time. The compositions are otherworldly, gorgeous, and can literally make you feel like you are floating out of your seat, like you're being elevated/transported to something/somewhere greater. Yes, this is easily the best score to a film this year.
Ronald Bronstein and Benny Safdie were in charge of editing, and it's frenetic and fast-paced. Sound editing was done by Helmut Scherz, Skip Lievsay, Anton Gold, and Chris Chae (among many others). The sound design is fantastic, there are plenty of parts where characters are talking or yelling over each other and it gets confused or hard to make out. Ordinarily, this would be considered a negative but for whatever reason the decision really works here. It fits the tone and style of the film, and makes those scenes feel that much more real.
Uncut Gems is directed and written by Josh and Benny Safdie (with Ronald Bronstein assisting with the script). The film has a manic energy throughout, and is fast-paced and filled with anxiety and tension (though I would say the anxiety was more intense in the Safdie Bros. previous film, 'Good Time'.). There are plenty of scenes where your stomach turns to knots and you start to feel sick. This is one of the few times a film succeeds in doing this not with visuals, but with the way scenes play out. It's not easy to watch Howard's attempts to dig himself out of the hole he is stuck in continually fall on their face, or to have his attempts just make things even worse. The script is also sharp and can cut like a knife. Don't let all this fool you though, as Uncut Gems is often quite hilarious and fun.
Uncut Gems is another masterpiece from A24. It doesn't feel like anything you have seen before. It's about basketball, gems, money, bad decisions, and the all-consuming desire for more. It's fun, hilarious, entertaining, tension-filled, anxiety-inducing, and plays more like an experiential film than anything else. The talent behind and in front of the camera is undeniable. Uncut Gems is easily the most entertaining film of 2019, and is an absolute blast that is best seen in a theater. It's definitely one of the best films of 2019.
5 STARS
No comments:
Post a Comment