Uncut Gems: pure visual anxiety and utterly nauseating
Words: Ronnie Joice | ★★★★☆
Adam Sandler is not, usually, one of the few actors I think of who can convincingly pull off so much frantic energy to deliver a porangi story into one anxiety-inducing, constant rising action. Yet, what he delivers with the sheer tolerance of his character, Howard, during the majestical and beyond-stressful moments he endures in Uncut Gems is just, well, insane.
The unknown factor continually building, right through to the end, is the reason it's so stressing, along with a tour-de-force performance from Adam Sandler filled with deep, soul-crushing vulnerability. Every new level of conflict is married to grotesque actions fuelled by addiction; every scene is evocative (and calls home) in some way. There is no wasted space, no chaff to cut away — leaving you with a raw, real character study of a man watching the world around him collapse.
Gripped on tenterhooks from the onset, you’re left to battle a state of prolonged questioning on how sugary the highs, of cashing in on ridiculous bets, might feel for yourself.
The entire climax, falling action and resolution is stunningly jam-packed into the last 15 minutes. In that short time; I got it? I seemingly understood the sweaty underworld of high stakes sports bets? Don’t be fooled, this is not a typical three act structure; with no fine, clear dividing lines that turn the whole story-arch into a beautiful mess. All of Sandler’s character’s issues are self-inflicted, bleeding straight from the previous and into the next.
Now, I can't multitask. Watching this with such level of tension nearly gave me heart palpitations; Uncut Gems is pure visual anxiety and utterly nauseating. It’s a movie filled with first-tier performances, punchy and disorientating Gregorian chant-esque electronica, with a turbo pace that means one blink and you need to rewind. Masterfully commandeering your support for a dirtbag protagonist, not an easy tightrope to walk, this compelling film sucks you in at every u-turn.
What a film. What an experience. I never want to see it again!
DIRECTOR: JOSH & BENNY SAFDIE | 135 MINUTES | A24 FILMS
Image credits (in order of appearance):
Adam Sandler © Julieta Cervantes; The Weeknd © Julieta Cervantes; Lakeith Stanfield © Julieta Cervantes; (L-R) Adam Sandler, Julia Fox © Julieta Cervantes; (L-R) Kevin Garnett, Lakeith Stanfield, Adam Sandler © Wally McGrady; Julia Fox © Julieta Cervantes; (L-R) Eric Bogosian, Adam Sandler © Julieta Cervantes