Uncut Gems (2019)

With his debts mounting and angry collectors closing in, a fast-talking New York City jeweler risks everything in hope of staying afloat and alive.

Directors:

Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

Writers:

Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

Stars:

Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel

24 wins & 74 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mesfin Lamengo	...	Wounded Miner
Sun Zhi Hua-Hilton	...	Mine Foreman
Liang Wei-Hui-Duncan	...	Mine Management #1
Sunny Wu Jin Zahao	...	Mine Management #2
Deneke Muhugeta	...	Lead Miner 1
Habtunu Africho	...	Lead Miner 2
Warren Finkelstein	...	Dr. Blauman
Adam Sandler	...	Howard Ratner
Keith Williams Richards	...	Phil
Tommy Kominik	...	Nico
LaKeith Stanfield	...	Demany
Maksud Agadjani	...	Yussi
Ca$h Out	...	Ca$h Out
Andrea Linsky	...	Joani
Roman Persits	...	Roman

Storyline

Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a once successful New York gems dealer whose gambling addiction has left his family and career in shambles, and him hundreds of thousands in debt. Always looking for the next big bet, Howard thinks he finally hit it big when he discovers a rare uncut rock of Ethiopian gems, with a very interested high-profile buyer. But the closer Howard gets to finally winning big, the more he is forced to realize he can't keep running from the consequences of his actions.

---

Plot Keywords:

neo noir | new york city | jeweler | jewelry | gem | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

(Rated R for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use)

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

25 December 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Uncut Gems

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$537,242, 15 December 2019

Gross USA:

$49,957,649

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$49,957,649

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elara Pictures, IAC Films, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The house used for the exterior of Howard Ratner's home is the same house used as Freddie Mercury's home in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

---

Goofs

In the club scene, "Swimming Pools (Drank)" by Kendrick Lamar is playing in the background. This should not be possible, as the movie takes place in May of 2012 and the song did not release until July of that year.

---

Quotes

Howard Ratner: Hey. Ya got him makin' meatballs in the back? All right!

---

Connections

Referenced in Sardonicast: The Rise of Skywalker, Space Jam (2020)

---

Soundtracks

L'amour Toujours (Small Mix)
Written by Gigi D'Agostino (as Luigino Di Agostino), Carlo Montagner, Paolo Sandrini and Diego Leoni (as Diego Maria Leonie)
Performed by Gigi D'Agostino
With the kind permission of ZYX Music GmbH & Co. KG.

User Reviews

Meh.

I wanted to like this movie. I really did. But I came out feeling a bit ill. The frenetic trailer proved a proper foreshadowing: it was like they extended the same pacing over the entire film. As a result it becomes hard to get to know or even like any of the characters and there was a resultant stock quality to many of them, with no real tension between them provided by the story. It skates too cleanly over the main character's gambling addiction and Kevin Garnett's role is almost inscrutable as a character goes; we end up with stereotypes. The tension which exists is generated in the hyperactive cinematography and editing and it leaves you feeling more and more like the end of the film couldn't come too soon... but when it does its nonsensical... it "wraps things up" but very unsatisfyingly. There's just not much of a payoff for your 2 1/2 hours. In sum, I'd sit this one out and wait till it's available to stream.