After an opening prologue that shows the pain caused by the opal mines in Ethiopia, the camera takes the viewer on a journey through the precious uncut stone at the center of the story. It’s colorful, flashy and larger than life, captivating in a way that makes it hard to look away. This is also how you would describe the mind and life of the film’s central character, Howard. And as the story progresses, both the stone and character are always moving, being talked about it, and causing pain and tragedy. UNCUT GEMS tells an unabashedly Jewish story in the vein of the Coen Brothers and the Old Testament long before them, revolving around the moral lesson of learning through suffering. It’s a modern parable about the determination and will to succeed (but at what cost), and it confidently rises to the top as one of the best films of 2019.
Everyone in the “Diamond District” knows Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler). Making just as many enemies as friends, Howard is a charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score. Frequently ignoring his wife (Idina Menzel) and family, Howard chooses to move through life at a break-neck pace through a frenzy of backdoor deals, lavish parties, and late nights with his secret mistress (Julia Fox). When basketball star Kevin Garnett steps into his shop and borrows Howard’s rare uncut gem to bring him luck at his game that night, it triggers a series of high-stakes bets that leads Howard toward a downward spiral that he might not be able to get out of.
Sandler plays this self-involved antihero with unbelievable gusto and fearlessness – a level we haven’t seen on screen from him in years. Writing and directing duo Benny and Josh Safdie purposefully center almost every scene around Sandler as his performance becomes mesmerizing. Just as Howard gets sucked into robbing from Peter to pay Paul, the audience somehow begins to root for this two-timing hustler. Think fast, worry about the consequences later is how he handles every situation, but in the hands of the Safdies, there is controlled chaos – a captivating sound mix of cell phones, door alarms, ticking clocks, electronic music, and Sandler’s anxious bravado.
Julia Fox ensures that the character of Julia is seen as more than just Howard’s mistress. There is a genuine sense of love and commitment to him that goes beyond what she’s willing to do by the end of the film. The way she looks at him with admiring eyes isn’t in a money-hungry manner, but more out of a belief in him as a person – accepting him, flaws and all, much like the audience is meant to perceive him. Much like Howard, the Safdies never look down on the complications of Julia, and like the film HUSTLERS earlier this year, they present a natural and sex-positive approach to a character that doesn’t typically receive the respect that most stories provide.
The extended anxiety created by the editing and camerawork is a bit much at times. The Safdie’s are practically encouraging the audience to have a panic attack. While the experience is an exhausting affair with few moments for the audience or for Sandler to catch their breath, it’s hard not to applaud the immersive element of the story. A feeling of dread and adrenaline is palpable throughout, as one tense moment is followed by another. The mental and physical abuse he puts himself and his loved ones through is agonizing, but in the mind of Howard, high-risk gives way to high-reward.
UNCUT GEMS is one of the best examples of representing addiction put to screen. In Howard’s constant dealings and trades and risky bets, Sandler represents the journey of an addict chasing the “high.” While his particular universe might be foreign for many of us, his dependency and obsessiveness make him a tragic antihero for the ages. As just an object, the jewel is meaningless to Howard. It doesn’t represent power or wealth – maybe to Kevin Garnett and his other friends it does – but for Howard, it’s just another pawn in his overly complicated game. It’s a game where he makes up the rules as he goes along, but one that he’s transfixed by and never wants to end. For him, this is a game that is more exhilarating and shines brighter than the winning prize. For audiences, this is a relentless and harrowing journey that is the personification of the famous adage, “Find something you love and let it kill you.”
Overall score: 5 out of 5
UNCUT GEMS is now playing in theaters everywhere
