Chris wrote this review of “Uncut Gems” for Ms. Mahoney’s Film Studies class.
Not Your Typical Adam Sandler Movie
Adam Sandler is a world-wide favorite comedy actor for many. He has come to perfect the “kid in a man’s body” type of comedy which is especially seen in films like Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore. Most of Sandler’s movies are comedies and are goofy and uplifting so it was surprising to see a side of Sandler never seen before.
Adam Sandler plays Howard Ratner, who’s a fast-paced, adrenaline-filled gambling addict and jewelry store owner. His store is located in New York’s diamond district in Manhattan, and it is small—the size of a one bed hotel room, with two doors separating Howard and the outside world. Both doors require a buzz-in for the person to get into or out of the store which gives Howard a lot of power in terms of who can come in. With debt piling up and time running out, Howard decides to buy this Ethiopian opal. The opal is gorgeous, revealing most colors of the rainbow, and claiming to have supernatural powers. Howard explains how he feels connected to the opal because all of these Ethiopian Jews spent months digging it up and he is Jewish as well.
Planning to put the opal up for a million dollars at an auction, Howard’s plans get sidetracked by one Kevin Garnett, a basketball superstore and legend, which is played by himself. After Howard is originally introduced during his colonoscopy, he returns to his store to find Kevin Garnett and some of his friends in Howard’s shop. Howard takes advantage of that time that Kevin Garnett was in there, and takes him back into his office to show him his newly acquired Ethiopian opal. Howard explains his connection to the opal and what he plans to do with it. Kevin Garnett is instantly in love with the opal. He asks Howard if he could borrow it as a “good-luck charm” for his Eastern Conference Finals match up. Reluctantly, Howard agrees but tells KG he will need it back for the auction and that he wants Kevin’s championship ring until he returns the opal. As the deadline for the auction approaches, Howard struggles to communicate with Keving Garnett and barely gets the opal back in time for the auction. Garnett planned to buy the opal at the auction but things went really south when Howard’s cousin began to press Howard about the debt he owed him. Howard finally ends up selling Keving Garnett the opal for 200 grand. Howard then uses that money to place a parlay on Kevin Garnett in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, instead of paying back his debt to his cousin. Howard is expecting to pay off big, by winning close to $1.2 million. At this point, it’s win or die for Howard.
The thing with Howard is: he is such a hateable character. Pimp-dressed with a money-filled mind. He has a wife and children that he does not care for or really see at all. He is in love with his mistress. Both he and his mistress are gold diggers which is why they work so well together. Howard is never satisfied with the money he has. He is always looking ahead to pay off big. Always using the money he just made to make more even with the risk of losing it all. His addiction to gambling is the downfall of his life. Howard is a hustler and this movie feels like an adrenaline-filled hustle with its pace and tone.
Even though Howard is such a hateable character, the Safdie brothers make the viewers feel for Howard and actually come to like him. Howard always has a plan or a big idea to make a lot of money or to work everything out. Every time he executes these plans, something goes sideways and the further you get into the movie Howard falls further into his hole of debt and danger. Howard’s personality is shitty and awful but for some reason the viewer wants to see what happens and if these gambles and risk will make him or break him. The movie is shot in Manhattan and has familiar faces such as Kevin Garnett, The Weeknd, and Mike Francesa, which for me, makes the film feel so real. Also I am used to the goofy side of Adam Sandler and all the other reviews or videos I watched talking about his acting in this film, compared to his performance in Punch Drunk Love. I had never seen Punch Drunk Love so this was the first time I was seeing the dark humor and range of acting abilities Adam Sandler has. It blew me away and I fell in love with this movie. I thought it was his best acting performance out of all of the movies I have seen of Adam Sandler. The ending did not sit well with me but I won’t spoil anything. Overall, I fell in love with Howard and the film.
Muy bien, Chris!