#Uncut gems budget professional

Starring Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield, Idina Menzel, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Judd Hirsch, Eric Bogosian, Abel Tasfaye.

Editors - Ronald Bronstein & Benny Safdie.

Director of Photography - Dariusz Khondji.

Written by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie.

Produced by Sebastian Bear-McClard, Eli Bush and Scott Rudin.

I genuinely don’t want to give too much more away, but this is easily one of the best films I’ve seen in several years and I would recommend it to anyone. Despite this, there’s a lot of cleverly-written humor peppered throughout the film, which makes it all the more enjoyable.ĭespite being snubbed by numerous awards shows, including the Oscars and the Golden Globes, Uncut Gems was universally acclaimed by audiences and critics alike and grossed $50 million at the US box office on a $19 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film ever for A24 Studios.

Howard’s ego simply won’t let him realize that he’s careening toward catastrophe, which sets up an explosive climax. Demany knows that Howard’s lack of a moral compass is putting them both in harm’s way, while Howard and Julia’s relationship proves to be just as dysfunctional and toxic as Howard’s relationships with his wife and his brother-in-law. The Safdies also use music very intelligently in their films, and I thought the Uncut Gems soundtrack was no exception.Īdditionally, Julia Fox and Lakeith Stanfield shine in supporting roles as Julia and Demany, respectively. Veteran cinematographer Dariusz Khondji’s beautiful imagery makes the entire film feel alternately intense and euphoric. Similarly, having Kevin Garnett and Canadian R&B star The Weeknd play themselves adds to the sense of realism and immediacy in the film. It’s clear that Sandler was humbled and grateful for the experience, but despite his reputation for cringy frat-boy humor, the man is more than capable of giving powerful dramatic performances ( Punch Drunk Love and Reign Over Me, just to name a few). In the special features on the Blu-ray release, the Safdies talked about how they always wanted to work with Sandler, a boyhood hero of theirs, despite his lack of box office successes in recent years. It’s safe to say that Adam Sandler gives the performance of a lifetime. In Uncut Gems, Howard Ratner is a similarly sleazy, unethical leading man who is beset by pressure from all sides - and he’s brought almost all of it upon himself.

In Good Time, Robert Pattinson’s character is almost always in over his head, specifically as a bank robber trying to secure bail money for his mentally-challenged brother. The Safdie brothers are very fond of big close-ups and handheld shots that emphasize characters’ faces, as shown in their previous films, including Good Time, which I thought was amazing. Pulse-pounding, original and highly entertaining, the film feels like a Scorsese crime film from the 70s. Written and directed by the Safdie brothers, Josh and Benny, Uncut Gems is one of the best pictures of 2019. Howard might be getting more than he bargained for as he deals with impossible pressure on all fronts, but if he’s going down, someone else is going to go down with him. Arno is furious and demands the money, while Howard just wants to reclaim the opal from Garnett so he can pawn it and pay off his debts. He ends up winning the money, but later on, he’s ambushed by Arno and his thugs while they attend his daughter’s school play. Howard pawns the championship ring and places a six-figure bet on Garnett’s game that night. He eventually agrees and accepts Garnett’s NBA championship ring as collateral. Garnett wants to borrow it for good luck in his upcoming playoff game, but Howard is skeptical. Howard has recently ordered a rare black opal from an Ethiopian mine and shows it off to Garnett after it arrives in the mail.

#Uncut gems budget professional

Thanks to a connection with his business associate Demany, Howard strikes up a professional relationship with NBA superstar Kevin Garnett. Howard’s marriage with his wife Dinah is on the rocks and the two have mutually agreed to file for divorce following Passover meanwhile, Howard is secretly having an affair with one of his employees, Julia. Howard is massively in debt, including a $100,000 repayment that he owes Arno, his loan shark brother-in-law. Howard Ratner is a charismatic, unethical man who runs a jewelry store in New York City’s Diamond District.

Already drowning in debt, being chased by bookies and beset with family problems, a fast-talking New York jeweler makes the bet of a lifetime.