Uncut Gems Review

An original film that’s both chaotic and magical

Uncut Gems, created by the Safdie Brothers, is a passion project that has been in the making for a decade and it shows. There has been hype surrounding the film ever since the trailer dropped and it was applauded at film festivals, but it’s now available everywhere and is a MUST-WATCH 2019 movie.

The story follows a gem dealer (played by Adam Sandler) in the diamond district of New York who makes a high stake bet including a rare gem and an NBA player to pay back his debts. Between the struggle of making it happen, he has to deal with both his family and his enemies.

And there’s a lot to unpack in these two hours of screen time. I was reeling coming out of the theater because it was seriously one of the most chaotic movies I’ve ever experienced. The intriguing part is, despite that, it was fairly easy to understand what was going on at all times. Part of what keeps that possible is brilliant, concise writing that holds it all together.

To bring that to the next level is an exemplary performance from the leading man Adam Sandler. When you think about Sandler, it’s usually comedies that come to mind, but he brings an intensity to the role that is unmatched. It’s sensational, I really can’t imagine anyone else playing this character to the extent that Sandler did.

Everything around him was great too. The supporting cast, including Kevin Garnett surprisingly, did very well. The shots and camerawork is brilliant. The score drives the pace of the movie forward in a way that only top tier movie score does. The overall feel of the movie is just fantastic. It’s also extremely unconventional, it does a lot that other films aren’t willing to do, even when it’s coming to a close in its jaw-dropping climax.

Uncut Gems is one of the best movies this year. It’s unique and outlandish, yet authentic and intimate. It’s extremely entertaining throughout, keeping you engaged from beginning to end, while also being extremely thought provoking. The Safdie Brothers brought their best to a project they’ve been working on for a LONG time and made it all worth it by creating a masterpiece to remember. It seems like people are divided over it, but it would be my top movie of 2019 if another work of art, Parasite, didn’t come out earlier in the year. Go watch this movie and form your own opinion, I promise it’s worth it.

The Hall Score: 10/10