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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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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

Initial drafts of the script included a version of the character Nick Nikas. This character would go on to be portrayed by Benny Safdie in the film Good Time (2017).

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Goofs

Mohegan Sun Casino is in the state of Connecticut. Connecticut, while having 2 casinos and multiple off track betting sites, does not have legalized sports betting, yet.

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Quotes

[from trailer, in Gary's office]
Howard Ratner: So I want the Celtics to cover, I want the Celtics halftime, I want Garnett points and rebounds.
Gary: Whaddaya know?
Howard Ratner: I dunno, I just know.
Gary: Well I'll tell you what I know, it's the dumbest fuckin' bet I ever heard of.
Howard Ratner: [smiles with teeth] I disagree.
[leaves]
Howard Ratner: I disagree, Gary.

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Connections

Referenced in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Toons of the 2020 Oscars (2020)

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Soundtracks

Amen
Written by Jeremih (as Jeremy P. Felton), Jahlil Beats (as Orlando Jahlil Tucker), Michael McDonald, Lester Abrams, Key Wane (as Dwane Weir II), Meek Mill (as Robert Williams), and Drake (as Aubrey Graham)
Performed by Meek Mill
Courtesy of Maybach Music Group / Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

"You're the most annoying person I've ever known"

They should hand out high-grade blood pressure meds to people going to see this after it ends. The major strength and in a way the slight weakness of Uncut Gems is how laser-focused the Safdies are in conveying total anxiety, stress and mania through this extreme act of full cinema SOUND (levels of acting and over-lapping dialog, that Vangelis-Blade-Runner-on-Steroids/Crystal Meth score, some of the cinematography and the tracking of the camera).

I do wish there was a little more than just flourishes of relief, though I'd be lying if I said Sandler was anything but exceptional and riveting playing degenerate crumbling right before our eyes. While Eric Bogosian, Lakeith Stanfield and Kevin Garnett and many others here are natural solid, it's Sandler's show, and it's soulful and tense and harrowing and ultimately (as terrible as Howard can be) tragic. The filmmakers's greatest achievement from the looks of this and Good Time is finding star-actors who aren't known for their wide range and getting career-triumph work from them. If the movie isn't all that complex, I do think Howard is and that helps make this pretty special as a depiction of addiction, more than anything else. It's got grit and style to burn, which is mostly fine by me.