Uncut Gems

First things first; I haven't seen many Adam Sandler films. The comedic actor who came to fame in the 1990s through a number of comedies has somehow passed me by and I've ended up seeing bits of his weaker efforts as he slid-off the tracks. His recent comedies were duds and his attempts at serious dramas failed to make an impact so his career in the last decade was barely a shadow of his former self. Then suddenly out of the blue came the drama, Uncut Gems, on Netflix and directed by Benny and Josh Safdie who had gathered acclaim off the back of Good Time from 2017. Could this be Sandler's chance to prove himself?

Even though this was arriving around the award season, the Netflix stamp can be the kiss of death on the streaming service and a reason to steer clear. The medieval epic Outlaw King with Chris Pine trumped my expectations and made a visually entertaining if not great watch. However, the action thriller Triple Frontier with its star-studded cast was an efficient if ultimately disappointing experience, while The Highway Men was well executed for those interested in the subject but I couldn't recommend sitting through the two hour plus running time. More often than not you would find disappointment in a Netflix film but Uncut Gems looked like it had more going for it than most while The Irishman was collecting all the praise.

Dropping the comedic act, Sandler stars a sleazy New York City jeweller living each day on the brink of collapse but has hopes of shaking off a growing number of angry debt collectors when he purchases a mystical opal that could change everything. With Martin Scorsese as Executive Producer, Uncut Gems has that rough and grimy New York feel the director brought to the screen in Mean Streets and right from the get-go Sandler is firing on all cylinders as the motor-mouthed Howard Ratner while the directing duo set about establishing the film's claustrophobic, anxiety fuelled story.

Backed with a psychedelic score, which I didn't expect, Uncut Gems establishes itself quickly and locks you in the uncomfortable shoes of Howard Ratner for over two hours without letting go, and the experience is thrilling. Sandler is brilliant as the story relentless paces from scene to scene while we watch him try to catch a break; it's like Only Fools and Horses but on acid. The end result will leave your palms sweaty and clamouring for a break from the tension as the story escalates.

Uncut Gems is an excruciating experience but in the very best of ways possible and puts Sandler back up there as an actor to watch thanks to his stellar performance. There have been some qualms about the ending but for me it suited the film and regardless of that Uncut Gems is still one I can easily recommend.