TIFF 2019 review: UNCUT GEMS is white-knuckle rush

2017’s exhilarating Good Time proved that director brothers Benny and Josh Safdie could put together a tense and fast moving thriller, and their latest, Uncut Gems, further cements the Safdies as some of the most exciting filmmakers working today.

Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner, a New York City jewellery salesman constantly on the lookout for the next opportunity to make a buck or place a bet. His next big scheme rests on importing rare gems from Ethiopia, which he boasts of to NBA player Kevin Garnett (playing himself) during a visit to his storefront. Garnett pleads to bring the gems to his next game, which kicks off an increasingly intense chain of events, sending Howard down a violent rabbit hole through the underbelly of NYC.

Summing up the plot of Uncut Gems is a fool’s errand; things are constantly happening throughout the film’s sprawling 135-minute running time, as Howard tries to raise money and avoid one set of dangerous characters after another, including his own brother-in-law, the seething crime boss Arno (Eric Bogosian). Uncut Gems intensely follows Howard moving through his extended cast of family, friends, and his assorted diamond district workers, along with his ex-wife (Idina Menzel), their children, and his current girlfriend (Julia Fox). Howard has so many balls in the air that it begins to make your head spin, which is only further reinforced by his irresponsible and often dangerous decisions, which literally had the audience at the film’s TIFF premiere screaming out “No!” right at the screen.

Uncut Gems joins the ranks of the greatest films about New York City, while shedding a light on the largely under-the-radar diamond dealers, who basically exist as their own ecosystem. Adam Sandler turns in what might be his best performance ever here, equally playing Howard as desperate, nervous, angry, and conniving, while still offering up plenty of solid laughs. The entire supporting cast is incredible, from legendary actors like Judd Hirsch and Eric Bogosian, to some of today’s best current actors like Lakeith Stanfield, as Howard’s go-to to the stars.

The Safdies throw the audience right into the chaos; characters talk over each other, the camera moves around seemingly of its own accord, and the razor-sharp script keeps the walls closing in on Howard until the film’s final electrifying moments. Uncut Gems pulses with so much unbridled energy that you almost want to stand up in your seats while watching it. Like one super-fan in the theatre shouted out before the lights went down: “Give an Oscar to The Sandman!” Hopefully his wish comes true.

Uncut Gems is in theatres on December 13, 2019.