Uncut Gems
In the opening scene of Uncut Gems, the camera slowly zooms and moves into the depths of a huge shard of black opal. Accompanied by a mesmerising retro-ambient score, the view floats beyond the dangerous Ethiopian mines from which the opal is sourced into the cloudy universe of the crystal. The letters of the title fling together in a font like the Nintendo logo, matching the wavy nostalgia of the synthesisers. Slowly, the clouds turn to glistening structures, which grow more discernible. We find we are following through the intestines of Howie, as the shot expands out of the monitor which the colonoscopy surgeons are using to take a look inside the man. The opening is bewildering and transporting and frames Howie, now pacing through a busy back-street while taking a heated call, as someone at the head of a powerful saga.
Adam Sandler (as Howard Ratner) might be the only one who could look the part in this movie. He’s out of place everywhere he goes – at The Weeknd’s concert wearing a stylish, loose, fluoro-orange shirt; at the Celtics basketball practice stealing a ball from a player and hitting a layup in a suit; or returning to his daughter’s play in a hockey jumper after being locked naked in his boot by his loan-shark brother-in-law (Arno, played by Eric Bogosian). In one scene his wife Dinah (Idina Menzel) is laughing hysterically at him, ‘what is it?’ he asks innocently and she manages to choke out, ‘your face … looks so stupid.’
If Sandler’s stupid face has made him millions in the way of puerile comedies such as Billy Maddison and Big Daddy, movies like The Wedding Singer show that he’s capable of starring in an original classic. Older now, the way he carries himself throughout Uncut Gems is clear-cut to the audience. Howard is so materialistically self-centred as to lack self-awareness, and the immense stress he experiences over a single weekend due to him trying to get the better of the world is compelling. He is at his best in the midst of a ruse or a high-stakes play, hustling to turn the tables.
The pacing of the plot is so developed that the multitude of acts and character arcs are cut together in a way that makes us feel like we are directly on course along with Howard. The camera-work grabs each character, even if they don’t have a line, and we seemingly get to the heart of Howard’s relationships. They are strained by the consequences of his gambling, leading to disillusionment in some cases and increased support in others. The richness of these interactions and their pathos are tied to the intricate cinematography which pulls us closer and the shimmering synths that ease us through each transition of mood.
I love a movie where I feel like I can jump in and watch from any point and still be hooked over and over again. Uncut Gems is a sparkling hit that is easy to get lost in.
Standout: The score’s accent of emotional moments.
Fave Quote: “Kevin Garnett is coming to my fucking showroom right now!”
