Synopsis
Uncut Gems is a 2019 criminal thriller film that was directed by both Josh and Benny Safdie. Adam Sandler plays the role of Howard Ratner, a jeweller in New York City who is addicted to gambling and makes a series of high-stakes wagers in an attempt to pay off his debts. The film is directed by Todd Phillips. Howard He purchases an extremely rare black opal with the intention of auctioning it off for a substantial sum. But, things rapidly go out of control as he is put under pressure by his creditors, struggles to maintain healthy connections with his family, and endures a series of unfortunate events.
The level of suspense in the movie steadily rises due to Howard’s increasingly precarious circumstances brought on by his reckless actions and poor choices. It is difficult for him to maintain his personal ties, and he fights a losing battle to keep his company going while also indulging his addiction to gambling. The narrative takes place against the backdrop of the NBA playoffs in 2012, which lends a heightened feeling of both urgency and excitement to the experience of watching the movie.
Interpretation
As time in the movie passes Howard put more bets on his parlay. Howard as a character has a moral flaw of Greed. Nothing is enough for him, he always wants more. Even when he has enough money to pay off his debts he still opts to get a bigger payout if he can. Howard as a protagonist is definitely well-written but the characters around him lack any depth. Perhaps this is cause we didn’t get to spend a lot of time with the other characters, so they just seemed one-dimensional and static. In order for Howard as a character to change he would have to let go of his want in order to find his need. There is not a single point in this movie where I thought he was going to do that.
The Safdie brothers and Adam Sandler each shine in their respective roles in the exhilarating and gripping Uncut Gems, which demonstrate their respective abilities. The movie is a wonderful example of how to create suspense and build up tension, and it also features an outstanding supporting cast that includes Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, and Lakeith Stanfield, among others. In the end, the movie delves into topics such as addiction, greed, and the perils of putting oneself in dangerous situations for no reason, which makes it an intense and thought-provoking film to watch.
