Josh and Benny Safdie, working together as directors, are prominent figures in independent cinema today, so “Uncut Gems” arrived with a lot of anticipation. Ultimately, the movie is decent, though not exceptional, and I’d venture to say that those proclaiming it groundbreaking haven't seen their much stronger 2017 film, "Good Time." New York City jeweler Howard Ratner (played by Adam Sandler) is constantly searching for his next big opportunity. As he makes a series of risky bets with the potential to bring him immense wealth, he struggles to manage the increasing number of people he’s indebted to, along with his business dealings, schemes, and family life. The plot isn't particularly substantial; it mostly involves profanity and ongoing cons, but there is a reasonable level of suspense that lasts for much of the film. What's surprising about “Uncut Gems” is its lack of depth, especially when measured against "Good Time." It’s not unreasonable to compare the two films since they both depict a harsh side of city life with protagonists who are on the verge of disaster. A good crime movie usually needs a central character that you can at least get behind, even if you don't necessarily identify with them, and Howard doesn't fit that bill. Sandler’s portrayal is that of an irritating and unsavory person, and while I suppose that was his intention, the performance feels grating and unpleasant to experience. I wasn’t particularly invested in seeing what happened to Howard because by the time the story concluded, I felt completely drained by his constant poor choices. The film follows a pattern: Howard lies, obtains money, wagers it away, digs himself deeper into trouble, receives a beating or warning from intimidating figures, then repeats the process. It's exhausting to watch someone so disreputable spiral out of control by continually making things worse for himself. This cycle of bad decisions is combined with an unwavering hope for a life-altering windfall. Why should anyone care about someone like that? Sandler delivers a good performance in the lead role, but much of the praise seems to be based on the unexpected nature of his work after years in comedic films. He's a skilled actor, but he’s demonstrated greater talent in other, smaller projects (such as Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories”). Howard is a loud, crude, and unpleasant person to be around, but Sandler embodies the role of a shady jewelry dealer and compulsive gambler in a way that offers a faint glimpse of humanity to an otherwise repulsive character. The film feels like a very intense, demanding imitation of a Martin Scorsese movie. It's not particularly thrilling, and any tension that exists seems artificial. The direction is more standard than the story implies, but I commend the Safdie brothers for maintaining their clear vision and sticking with it. They’ve begun to establish themselves as leaders in bringing the gritty side of New York to modern audiences. While I don't believe they are as overhyped as some critics suggest, I do feel that this film is unnecessarily long.

Source on TMDB