Uncut Gems reviews

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Sabin
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Re: Uncut Gems reviews

Post by Sabin »

We know about movies about losers losing. The Safdie Bros make movies about losers winning and losing and winning and losing.

I I haven't been much of a fan of their previous films. They felt more like rides than stories. Uncut Gems feels more like a full meal by tapping into Adam Sandler's Gen X man-boy desperation and finding an entrancing nightmare. It sustains its manic intensity for two and a half hours bringing us into the dizzy highs and lows of the 24/7 juggling act that one man imposes on himself. That one man is Howard, a jewel salesman/gambling addict who has conflicting bets all over town. We've seen this film before but I can't remember it sustained with a protagonist who has such a lack of self-awareness. We've seen Adam Sandler trade on his man-boy persona before but never like this. Credit the Safdies for knowing exactly how to make use of him. Sandler's biggest wall as an actor is the fundamental lack of expression in his face. The Safdies might be the first filmmaker(s) to find a way to truly embrace that and make proper use of him. He's an addict whose life is full of dizzying highs and lows that he can barely stay minutes ahead of. He's very good.

Another high-mark in what's turning into a great year for films.
"How's the despair?"
Mister Tee
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Uncut Gems reviews

Post by Mister Tee »

Like all Safdie movies, it has champions -- but doesn't seem to stray into Oscar territory.

https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/u ... 203320276/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/revie ... ew-1235941
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