Uncut Gems (2019)

Set in the heart of New York City, this story follows a magnetic jeweler who is constantly hunting for that one massive payday, leading him to take a string of incredibly risky gambles that might just change his life forever. Howard finds himself walking a razor-thin line as he tries to juggle his business interests, his complicated family dynamics, and a growing list of dangerous rivals, all while chasing that elusive, life-altering jackpot.

Stars: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett

IMDb

Sandler is actually great when he wants to be—but we already knew that from Punch-Drunk Love and Funny People—though I’m not even sure if this role was written for him. Based on the vibe, it feels like they wanted Turturra, and when that fell through, they just pivoted to Sandler.

Anyway, he’s good, and the movie just barely clears that "solid" threshold above being a total flop. It’s incredibly underdirected and messy—not in a "good" way that mirrors the protagonist's internal chaos, but just plain random at times, shifting focus to characters and subplots that are frankly forgettable. If it did that with intention, it might work; as it stands, it's just aimless. As for the score, I didn't get what they were doing with it during the watch or even now—not that I’m some music critic, so maybe I missed the point. The ending hits hard, though it drags on a bit too long after the actual punch.

Still, Sandler delivers, so he makes it worth the watch, even if my final takeaway is that I feel like I've seen this exact thing many times before, just done better—even if I can't point to specific examples.

northerncrane4 said:Sandler is actually great when he wants to be—but we already knew that from Punch-Drunk Love and Funny People—though I’m not even sure if this role was written for him. Based on the vibe, it feels like they wanted Turturra, and when that fell through, they just pivoted to Sandler.

Anyway, he’s good, and the movie just barely clears that "solid" threshold above being a total flop. It’s incredibly underdirected and messy—not in a "good" way that mirrors the protagonist's internal chaos, but just plain random at times, shifting focus to characters and subplots that are frankly forgettable. If it did that with intention, it might work; as it stands, it's just aimless. As for the score, I didn't get what they were doing with it during the watch or even now—not that I’m some music critic, so maybe I missed the point. The ending hits hard, though it drags on a bit too long after the actual punch.

Still, Sandler delivers, so he makes it worth the watch, even if my final takeaway is that I feel like I've seen this exact thing many times before, just done better—even if I can't point to specific examples.

They wanted Sandler. The first time was about ten years ago, and he turned them down twice. After seeing Good Times, he decided to work with them. It’s as if he wasn't just reading a script, but needed to see their visual style to be convinced.

The Safdie brothers have mentioned that the only other person they could see in the role besides Sandler is Rodney Dangerfield. I'm not sure if they were actually thinking about this film while he was still alive, or if that's just hindsight talking.

For me, this is the film of the year. And honestly, best ass of the year on a woman. 😁

Adam Sandler is just on another level, seriously. This movie is relentless—it never lets up for even a millisecond. If Phoenix or Bale had been the lead, they’d be walking away with an Oscar right now, hands down. Plus, being a huge NBA fan, this whole thing hit even harder for me. It was wild. 🙏🙏

Such a blast to watch 👍

Sandler absolutely crushed it 😁

Man, that was brutal. Forty minutes in and I feel like I just went ten rounds in a boxing ring... The script felt like it was ripped straight out of a chaotic farmyard at dawn. Nobody talks normally, everyone's just screaming over each other and cutting people off... it's irritating as hell.

Jack Murphy5 said:For me, this is the film of the year. And honestly, best ass of the year on a woman. 😁

Signature
Sandler delivers one of the top five performances of the year
Maybe the rear end was a tiny bit too much for my taste, but I'll allow it...

northerncrane4 said:Sandler is actually great when he wants to be—but we already knew that from Punch-Drunk Love and Funny People—though I’m not even sure if this role was written for him. Based on the vibe, it feels like they wanted Turturra, and when that fell through, they just pivoted to Sandler.

Anyway, he’s good, and the movie just barely clears that "solid" threshold above being a total flop. It’s incredibly underdirected and messy—not in a "good" way that mirrors the protagonist's internal chaos, but just plain random at times, shifting focus to characters and subplots that are frankly forgettable. If it did that with intention, it might work; as it stands, it's just aimless. As for the score, I didn't get what they were doing with it during the watch or even now—not that I’m some music critic, so maybe I missed the point. The ending hits hard, though it drags on a bit too long after the actual punch.

Still, Sandler delivers, so he makes it worth the watch, even if my final takeaway is that I feel like I've seen this exact thing many times before, just done better—even if I can't point to specific examples.

I agree with this sentiment. It’s a decent enough film, but Movie of the Year? Not a chance. It's far too overactive and frantic for that. There isn't a single moment where the protagonist actually stops to breathe. It's just constant racing and clutter. I found it hard to believe at times. Even with Sandler doing an excellent job, I struggled to connect with the lead.

The soundtrack defies logic and doesn't fit at all. I kept wondering why they chose that specific music, and if I'm asking that question, it clearly isn't working.

Sandler is fantastic, and honestly, he’s the best part of the whole thing.
It seems you all enjoyed the ending, but I found it poor. It just didn't land. It felt overly simplistic, almost as if they realized they had ten minutes left on the reel and decided to rush through the resolution just to wrap things up. Yeah.

A pretty face is easy enough to sell, I suppose. 😁

Spoilers

Just how bad can the ending be? Everything leading up to it was pointing toward this exact conclusion. It really was the only way it could have played out. 🤷
He ended things as a "winner," wearing a smile on his face. 🙂

I don't really see it that way.

Spoiler alert:

Sure, everything was building toward something, but that ending felt cheap to me. I didn't walk away feeling like he won; if anything, it was the opposite. It just left me feeling emotionally hollow—like, is that it? All that buildup just to let it fizzle out like that. Granted, Sandler’s character isn't exactly a genius, so I suppose it's the only logical outcome, but I still expected more.

He’s a "winner," if you want to call it that. He felt like he won in the end, sure, but let's be real—that guy isn't going to change. Even if they had let him walk away, he'd still be placing bets, racking up debts, and finding himself right back in the same mess before long.
I would have loved to see him get out of it, too, but honestly? The movie is much better this way. At least, that's my take. 🙂

There’s a certain logic to it; I think I finally get what you meant by calling him a "loser." There is a strange sense of satisfaction in avoiding a typical happy ending—that would have been far worse—but this conclusion felt like a much-needed reality check after all that hysteria.

At least the girl got her happy ending. 😁

It’s way too soon to spoil this movie, at least regarding how it ends
but honestly, that performance was exactly what the film needed. Truly smart 🍿

I really hope Sandler keeps picking roles like this one. It’s a genuinely great film. My rating would be a solid 7.5/10—probably a bit lower than what people are currently giving it on IMDb.

Man, what a ride. I absolutely loved every chaotic second of this movie. That moment when he takes the cash from Kevin Garnett and hands it over to her—I mean, you could see it coming, but man, was it intense. 🙏

Sandler is seriously incredible here. I know a lot of people are hating on the soundtrack, but it reminds me of the vibe in Good Times. Personally, I think it works perfectly.

Personally, I thought the music worked way better in Good Times—that OPN soundtrack really gave that movie an extra dimension. Here, though, the score feels like it’s eating every single scene alive. It’s just too over-the-top and doesn't really vibe with the goofy tone of the film. Just my two cents!

By the way, that auction scene is top-tier—I’ve always loved auction scenes in movies because you just know things are about to go absolutely sideways. 😁 That part where the receptionist calls her boss that—honestly, it felt like a scene straight out of some goofy Hollywood comedy—but man, it was gold! 🤣

This one definitely wasn't my cup of tea. I don't know, even if the acting is solid, it just doesn't make up for that chaotic atmosphere, the grating soundtrack, and a camera that won't stop shaking. It just left me feeling kind of... meh...

Ashley Grant66 said:Personally, I thought the music worked way better in Good Times—that OPN soundtrack really gave that movie an extra dimension. Here, though, the score feels like it’s eating every single scene alive. It’s just too over-the-top and doesn't really vibe with the goofy tone of the film. Just my two cents!

By the way, that auction scene is top-tier—I’ve always loved auction scenes in movies because you just know things are about to go absolutely sideways. 😁 That part where the receptionist calls her boss that—honestly, it felt like a scene straight out of some goofy Hollywood comedy—but man, it was gold! 🤣

I agree. I watched Good Times right after this one, and while the dialogue isn't fighting the music quite as much there, I still don't get why they went with this Vangelis rip-off style. It feels misplaced.🤷
Personally, nothing about it felt goofy to me; it felt tragic from the jump. It’s clearly meant to grate on your nerves because of how foolish the protagonist is. I struggled through the beginning, but once I settled in, it paid off. To me, the film worked.

By the way, that teasing scene is gold. I always love scenes involving banter because you just know things are about to go sideways. 😁 And that moment where the receptionist calls her boss out? It felt like something straight out of a silly sitcom, but it was spot on. 🤣

It's like a Ricky Gervais mockumentary. 😁 Yeah, those two scenes are great.

Donna Fowler3 said:Man, that was brutal. Forty minutes in and I feel like I just went ten rounds in a boxing ring... The script felt like it was ripped straight out of a chaotic farmyard at dawn. Nobody talks normally, everyone's just screaming over each other and cutting people off... it's irritating as hell.

I had the exact same takeaway. Keeping track of all that shouting is impossible—it's a total madhouse.