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 searchi…

The Safdie brothers have built a reputation for creating films that generate unease, and Uncut Gems continues in that vein. It’s likely to be a film that sparks strong reactions. There were moments when I just wanted to tell the characters on screen to quiet down. The quick rhythm, constant talking, and intense music work both as strengths and weaknesses. Adam Sandler delivers what seems like his finest performanc…

“This is how *I* win.” It was certainly one of the most anxiety-inducing film experiences I’ve had recently. The entire movie seems to operate on a foundation of intense energy, and the way events played out created a particularly unsettling atmosphere. Characters were constantly talking or shouting over each other, while the impressive sound design made the environment around them feel incredibly cramped and s…

Watching a man repeatedly fail for two intense hours might not sound appealing, but this is a well-crafted film. If you hold it up to the sky, it will shine a billion beautiful miracles painted from the tears of the most High. Plucked from the lush gardens of a yellowish-green paradise, look inside this hypnotic gem and a kaleidoscope of titillating, soul-raising sights and colors will tease and seduce your eyes a…

It’s not Adam Sandler’s finest work, certainly. However, this is his strongest performance since Punch-Drunk Love, which remains the high point of what he's capable of. The movie isn’t particularly remarkable when it comes to technical aspects, but its approach seems entirely geared toward creating a draining experience. Uncut Gems truly is an intense and stressful ordeal, and it succeeds admirably in that regard.…