If you would have told me almost 10 years ago, around the time Grown Ups came out into theaters, that the leading star and comedian Adam Sandler would be gaining Oscar buzz, I first would thought you were simply crazy and should probably rethink your life. Flash forward and here we are as the decade is closing with Sandler's new film which is unlike anything we have seen before from his films or other films in general. From the directors of the hit indie film Good Times, the Safdie Brothers, comes there new film from the hit studio A24, Uncut Gems. Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a NYC Diamond District jeweler that is well known gambling addict throughout the entire district and even throughout the entire city. Throughout the film Howard is making high stakes bets with numerous bookies that are always following him, while Howard is just trying to find a win in his life. Along the way we see Howard collect well known and high end jewels, have dealings with NBA superstar Kevin Garnett, going to a Weeknd concert, and dealing with both his mistress played by Julia Fox and his wife played by Idina Menzel. All in this as he relentlessly tries to win big and will not stop by passion and drive to be the ultimate gambler in the district. The best word I can describe this film was simply crazy. Nonstop on the edge of my seat that is both intense and leaves you thinking once the film is over. Uncut Gems in my opinion was the best film chosen to end the decade. When I had left the theater I could not stop thinking about the film and how good it was, yet I would not say film of the year, but definitely in the top 3. I have not seen a previous Safdie Brothers film, yet from the trailers of this film I knew I be hooked and be converted into a fan. Adam Sandler throughout the film provides one of the best performances of career, besides being Jill in his comedy Jack and Jill (just kidding), but seriously I could not get over how insane his character was in the entire film. Howard is certainly not a character we should not be rooting for, yet we see this anti-hero try to become the hero of his own story in his quest to win big in the world of gambling. Other performances from Lakeith Stanfield and Kevin Garnett provide exceptional performances that help drive the backbone of the story that keeps you on the edge in the entire film, Stanfield even giving one of his best performances since Sorry to Bother You. One quality of the film that should not go unnoticed is the sound mixing of the film, it almost plays an entirely new character that brings you as the audience into the world of high end jewelry and sports gambling. This film is certainly not for everyone, however I encourage everyone to go see this film, it is loud and obnoxious, 100% a full blown New York film, yet it is a new side of Adam Sandler, the guy who created That's My Boy & Pixels, puts aside his silly side that should not go unnoticed and ultimately should end with him receiving an Oscar nomination.
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