Uncut Gems Sends You Over the Edge

Studio : A24, Netflix Poster

An online search of the word fuck yields 57 hits on Ronald Bronstein's screenplay of Uncut Gems. The number actually seems low. Nonetheless, I’m no Puritan and a targetted search on my daily dialogue would go well beyond that tally. But the four letter onslaught does a pretty good number on your sensibilities and helps makes this 2019 film painful to watch. Of course, the profanity that follows the tenuous life a gambling addict is far from the only excess that makes this boisterous cut hard to endure.

The Benny and Josh Safdie film opens in an African mining area where workers live a perilous life for the benefit of their exploitive bosses and customers the world over. The ensuing scene shift to the main character’s colonoscopy drives home the point and suggests the rabbit hole that Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is heading down is pretty deep.

Gambling does most of the digging for Sandler, but the larger metaphor still screams at us. This especially when the tie is made to Ratner’s legit business as a jewel distributor. Kevin Garnett playing himself even voices the injustice toward the end. But by then, two hours and 14 minutes of agitation loses any interest of a deeper meaning.

Otherwise from Sandler’s insides, Howard fucks his way onto the screen, and the gambling debts previously incurred, reveal the full weight of his abrasiveness. “Hey man, who the fuck do you think you’re talking to,” he belches into his cellphone.

No consideration given the employee trying to keep several henchman at bay, Howard's introduction has us back on our heels, and nothing about Sandler’s character lets us catch up.

The protangonist never stops moving, and following his relentless pace is exhausting. The same goes for a mouth that runs incessantly and has all his dialogue talking passed every person he meets.

Thus, the overbearing demeanor throws a believability factor into the presentation. Yes, gamblers will always take your money, but how has Howard managed to build a successful business and attract both a beautiful ex-wife and an attractive young lover. It boggles the mind that anyone could be involved with this man? 134 minutes was way more than I could stomach.

Still, the chaos that surrounds Howard’s persona does make sense. He is a high risk gambler who constantly pushes the envelop. I guess it isn’t asking much that we feel accept the residue. But can you give me something to like about this man. I mean, you want to root for the main character, don’t you?

You can root for Sandler, though. His portrayal of this extremely unlikable character is pretty amazing. The mere sight of Howard oozes disdain and you can’t blame the actor for the poor vision of the directors.

They might simply have looked to Owning Mahowny for some help. A far more sedate anti-hero, the erratic pursuit of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s gambling addiction yields the same results and evokes a similar frustration as a viewer.

Converserly, Mahowny takes his lumps like a man and isn’t up in everyone’s face in regards to his failures. Thus, the tragic real life figure gives us enough of a human being to empathize with and implores that we pull for him.

Even so, Howard’s path seems like he might not require our rooting interest and an exit strategy emerges for his $100,000 gambling debt. An uncut gem has made its way from the aforementioned African mines, and the jeweler is looking good.

So what does Howard do? He digs himself in deeper by deferring to Kevin Garnett’s gut feeling. The basketball legend convinces the gambler to loan him the stone. You see the vibe Garnett is getting from the gem will mean certain victory in the East Conference Finals.

Letting it out of his sight, seems like a pretty big risk to take - especially since the estimated value runs into the millions. But the exchange isn't a complete flight of fancy, because Howard sees a sure thing with Garnett’s confidence.

The Celtic surrenders his Championship ring as collateral and $21,000 in pawn shop money could mean an even bigger return from Howard's bookie. Still, the believability factor is tenuous, and the anxiety drives your couch sitting up the wall.

Howard is a thrill seeking gambler, though. So his behavior is in line, and our part involves enduring all the flawed logic of a gambling addict. “On some level, the stress is the point,” Sheila O’Malley's review justifies the kill ride in RogertEbert.com

On the other hand, if I’m suffering from actual chest pains in wait of the end, the chaos misses the mark. In fact, as the pivotal moment bears down on Howard, there's mixed feelings.

You do want Howard to win, but his completely irrational decisions and atrocious behavior are too extreme to warrant it. Therefore, nothing satisfying could come from triumph or failure.

The fix, again, is alluded above. Couldn’t you give us something to like about this character? Anything would do.

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