Directed by The Safdie Brothers (Josh & Benny)
Written by Ronald Bronstein & The Safdie Brothers
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Eric Bogosian, The Weeknd, Paloma Elsesser, Keith Williams Richards, Judd Hirsch, Mike Francesa, Noa Fisher, Pom Klementieff
Soundtrack: Daniel Lopatin
After Good Time came out a couple of years ago, I’ve been voraciously excited to see what the Safdie brothers would do next, so much so that despite seeing the trailer for Uncut Gems approximately a hundred times (What can I say? I go to Alamo Drafthouse a lot), my appetite never once wavered.
I’m sure I’ve said this before, but there’s a spirit of genuine New York City filmmaking that has existed since at least the 1950s, and I’m not just talking about mainstream directors like Martin Scorsese (who’s an executive producer on Uncut Gems; game recognize game) and William Friedkin, but people like Larry Cohen, William Lustig, and James Glickenhaus throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s as well.
For my money, no filmmakers today carry this torch as brightly and as authentically as Benny and Josh Safdie, along with their writing partner Ronald Bronstein. While it can be argued if Uncut Gems is their best film (after all, Good Time is such an unrelenting, compounding assault on the senses, and I say that with love), it is their most mature film in the sense that they are clearly applying every lesson they’ve learned in the past while still trying something new.
Without saying what it is, the intro to Uncut Gems is reminiscent of the way Friedkin opens such films as The Exorcist and Sorcerer, and I really appreciated that, but the truly ambitious element of the movie is the recording of all the overlapping dialogue, which is a very Robert Altman move, and not an inappropriate one given that Uncut Gems might be the best gambling movie in 45 years (that being Altman’s 1974 opus, California Split).
Let me be clear though, despite all my talk of spiritual continuum and stylistic homages, Uncut Gems is a decidedly independent and original film, so for all the talk about the death of cinema these days, rest assured, there are still life signs to be found, this movie among them (It’s also a surprisingly accessible film, at least by Safdie brothers’ standards, although, you know, maybe don’t take grandma and the kids. Star Wars this is not).
Of course, despite the strength of the filmmaking, the gritty allure of Darius Khondji’s cinematography, and the mastery of Daniel Lopatin’s electronic score, I’d be absolutely remiss if I didn’t at least mention the performances.
Say what you will about Adam Sandler (God knows I’ve said plenty), he absolutely nails this role, but it’s a team effort as well: Lakeith Stanfield puts in his usual good shift; the great Eric Bogosian is properly menacing without being arch; but, for me, the unsung hero of the cast is Keith Williams Richards as Bogosian’s number one lieutenant (Never heard of him? Me neither, but he’s great in this). In addition, there are a few fun cameos spaced throughout; some you may already be aware of, some that require a little digging.
So, if you’re looking for something beyond the usual Hollywood fare this holiday season, I highly recommend Uncut Gems. It’s one of the best of the year, hands down.
Rating: ★★★★☆