Uncut Gems (2019)

Uncut Gems (2019)

7/10

Starring

Adam Sandler

Kevin Garnett

Idina Menzel

Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie

Uncut Gems is one movie that is just so weird and good. Adam Sandler is just heads and shoulders above the rest of the cast and his performance is super. If you have not taken the time to see this movie I advise you do. The movie is over two hours long, but the events are enough to keep you entertained and glued. The movie ends in a way that just plants what may be the needed message the movie may have tried to pass across. That message will be, gambling is never a good way to earn a living or payoff debts.

First the movie is not a comedy, which is something Sandler is known for. Instead, it is a dramatic crime thriller with so much intense you have to hold your breath. The power of this movie is the plot, it builds as the moments progress and the characters end up being unpredictable. Another thing is, no matter how you look at this film, trying to think of a way out for Howard (Adam Sandler) the way the movie ended seems to be his only escape. His gambling addiction had the best of him.

Howard in this movie is a Jewish jeweler who seems to be owing everyone who happens to crossed paths with him. This does not go well with his day to day movement because the ones he owes are after him and he seems to be robbing his customers also who are oblivious to it.

Howard’s business is doing well, but Howard likes to gamble and the only way he can fuel this life is to borrow money, pawn things left in his trust and just make a mess of his life. He is not doing better in the home front either. Howard is married with children, but his mistress seems to get the best of him. His wife wants nothing to do with him anymore and wants a divorce.

Howard had a plan, he is owing so much and has pawned a lot of his customers items, the only way he can make amends is to get a big score. So Howard goes big. He purchases an uncut opal from an Ethiopian Jewish mining company. He plans to auction it off, valuing the item to be over a million dollars.

Things does not go well for Howard as his problems were catching up with him. He was able to inspire Kevin Garnett to a magical game using the opal. Yet, with his addiction getting the best of him and ill luck being against him, even a sure bet was almost impossible for him to cash in on.

Here is a movie you will enjoy and I ask you take the time to see it.