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Uncut Gems (2019)

Director:
Josh Safdie
Benny Safdie

COUNTRY
USA

GENRE
Crime/Thriller

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Uncut Gems
RUNNING TIME
135 minutes
RELEASED BY
Netflix
Producer:
Scott Rudin
Eli Bush
Sebastian Bear-McClard
Screenwriter:
Ronald Bronstein
Josh Safdie
Benny Safdie


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Howard Ratner Adam Sandler
Julia Julia Fox ½
Dinah Ratner Idina Menzel
Demany Lakeith Stanfield
Himself Kevin Garnett ½
Arno Eric Bogosian
Phil Keith Williams Richard ½
Gooey Judd Hirsch ½

 

Review

With this relentless crime drama, the Safdie brothers (Good Time) demonstrate yet again their command over the medium, but Uncut Gems is such a draining, pessimistic picture that you basically have to be masochistic in order to enjoy it. Adam Sandler is well cast as the industrious jewelry store owner and gambling addict who's always one step behind on everything. Needless to say, the web of loan sharks, bookies, sales agents, unhappy clients, wives and girlfriends begins to tighten around him. An exhilarating synthy musical score by Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never) and a constantly moving narrative suck you into the bleakness. Watching Uncut Gems is like being stuck in one of those nightmares that starts over and over again instead of waking you up. There are some solid performances in here, including from former basketball pro Kevin Garnett in his debut. But none of the characters are likeable, and so you end up rooting for the money – just like Howard Ratner does.

Copyright © 07.02.2020 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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