Director - Josh Sadfie & Benny Sadfie
Cast - Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel, Kevin Garnett, Lakeith Stanfield, Eric Bogosian
Genre - Crime/Thriller/Dark Comedy
Streaming On - Netflix
"This is how I win"
Uncut Gems is an American crime thriller directed by the Sadfie brothers. Uncut Gems is about this fast talking jewish jeweller in New York who gets his hand on an Opal from Africa. As his debts mount and angry collectors close in, he makes high stake bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. With his life on the line he must balance business, family and adversaries on all sides in pursuit of the staying afloat.
Talking about underrated and under-valued films which didn`t get the recognition they deserved, Uncut Gems might just top that list! This movie is a masterpiece! Most critics have given it an 'above average' rating but it deserves so much more. Its an entertaining watch, but not in a traditional way! Sadfie brothers` attention to detail, stunning camerwork and just the apt soundtrack make this an electrifying crime thriller. Adam Sandler, the actor who is known for his goofy roles, shows a side which was never seen before. Its the Adam Sandler we have all been waiting to watch! He is mesmerizing and flat-out sensational in this film. But Sandler is not the only surprise this movie holds, Julia Fox delivers an out of the ordinary performance too! This movie works as a whole unit, there are no moving parts that are left untouched. The mesmerizing chaos that the movie creates is beautifully displayed and is what truly makes this movie work.
While the movie is exceptional in most aspects, its buildup is a bit slow. The starting is chaotic and not the mesmerizing kind. It takes time to make sense of the film, as slowly everything starts falling into place. The first twenty to thirty minutes is a bit of a drag, but if you live through that then Uncut Gems will keep you glued to your seats till the end of the film.
JRating: 7.5/10
JRev: An out and out Adam Sandler show. An unconventional masterpiece!
Trivia -
Uncut Gems took seven years to get made! Following their directorial debut on the 2009 film Daddy Longlegs, the Safdies wrote the initial draft for Uncut Gems but were unable to secure financing for the film. Later after two additional years of development, shooting finally began on the project in September of 2009, concluding a few months later in November.