A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score, makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
After their debut, one of the greatest crime thrillers “Good Time,” which was equally nightmarish and psychedelically gorgeous, I couldn’t wait for the Safdie Brothers’ latest release. “Uncut Gems” is the story of a man who can’t help but create chaos and mistakes his dumb-luck and clever manipulation for masterful control. This film grabs and takes you on an uncomfortable and entertaining ride.
This is Adam Sandler’s career-best performance since “Punch Drunk Love.” He morphs into Howard Ratner, a flashy dressing quick-witted jewelry store owner who smiles out of smugness or nervousness, we’re not sure. He juts his lower jaw, showing his mind at work trying to wiggle his way out of his current predicament. It’s such a departure from his more predictable goofball roles.
The story begins in an Ethiopian mine as two miners happen to find a large uncut black opal gemstone about the size of a basketball player’s fist. Cut to the Spring of 2012, the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers are vying for the Eastern Conference Championship. Howard enters his tiny but stocked jewelry shop as his broker Demany (Lakeith Stanfield) shows up with Celtics star Kevin Garnett. Howard tries to show off some outrageous custom jewelry (blinged-out Furby with moving eyes) as a package arrives at the door: the Uncut Gem, a nearly 5,000-carat opal said to be 110 million years old. “They say you can see the whole universe in opals,” Howard proclaims and this statement rattles Garnett to relinquish his championship ring in exchange for the opal, his new talisman.
The stellar Eric Bogosian plays Arno, an antagonistic bookie with the laid back conviction of an apex predator. Just as memorable is Phil (Keith Williams Richards in his debut role), who’s Arno’s head enforcer – a man you don’t want to upset. Howard is on the outs with his wife Dinah (Idina Menzel) and is shacking up with his gorgeous younger employee Julia (Julia Fox). Fox nails her feature debut, capturing the tumultuous yet lovable relationship she has with Howard. She tells him that a new R&B artist known as The Weeknd is performing at an exclusive party and wants him to attend. Howard sees an opportunity to get his Opal back and invites Demany to attend. The plot is straightforward yet so layered with Howard’s intricate bets that it’s astonishing in every sense. When I wasn’t clenching my seat I was laughing at the great script and acting by Sandler.
“Uncut Gems” shows the Safdies in complete control of their craft, once again containing the stylistic sensibilities of a 1970s East Coast epic. They introduce a city’s dark underbelly with realistic high stakes. There’s a remarkable party scene in the second act much like “The Deer Hunter,” “The Godfather: Part II,” and the recent “The Irishman,” that’s significant and well-staged. In a clever move, they show the source of the opal and the repercussions of capital and material demand. In doing this, the Safdies display awareness in refusing to keep the events contained in a glammed-out Manhattan bubble. Apparently, the characters are based on some of the men the Safdie Brothers’ father met during his time working in Manhattan’s diamond district.
Another unexpected payoff is Kevin Garnett’s genuine performance, he’s a player I’ve always admired. The soundtrack is as fantastic if not better than “Good Time.” The Russian maestro Daniel Lopatin a/k/a Oneohtrix Point Never, who composes some of the most beautiful and original electronic soundscapes creates the perfect galactically claustrophobic score. The film has a pulse with its thrashing and dreamy score that drives the screenplay. Regardless of the fast-paced nature, many scenes have time to breathe and never outstay their welcome. The wide-angled framing is suitable for the larger-than-life characters and plot. It’s rare to root for a pathological liar and degenerate gambler yet I was in awe of his complicated maneuvering. Like most films with an unexpected lead and supporting cast, this was a gamble, and boy does it pay off.
The siblings show a united vision that’s akin to the Coen Brothers synchronicity. Much like the Coens, famously overseeing every detail of production, Josh and Benny Safdie are involved with more than just sharing writing and directing duties, Benny is a co-editor and was one of the boom mic operators.
For the miners, the uncut gems are a way of survival, for Howard, it nourishes and expedites his greed and for Garnett, it’s a lucky charm to quell his athletic superstitions. It’s a matter of class perspective on what these different individuals project onto the coveted item. As an audience, we get to see all of these sides in a carefully and universally crafted story.
In theaters in NY and LA Friday, December 13th
