Adam Sandler is No Joke in Uncut Gems

When you think of Adam Sandler, you think about Saturday Night Live, screwball comedies (like my personal favorite Big Daddy) or voicing the animation patriarch Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania franchise.  Right??!!  Well, there is no joking around when it comes to Adam’s star turn in Uncut Gems.

As charismatic New York City jeweler, Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is always on the lookout for the next big score while making a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. This precarious high-wire act in the form of balancing business, family, and dodging adversaries on all sides in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win creates irreversible results.

When I tell you this is the craziest, most stressful film I have seen to date, I do not exaggerate. A massage was in dire need for sure.  Why?  Watching a character crash and burn at his own peril while making one bad decision after another is just sheer pain.  You know the person that buys a lottery ticket every day, goes to the racetrack and plays craps with the unwavering belief that with every dime they own (and sometimes other people’s dimes) are going to hit it big enough to gross more money than one could ever imagine changing their life?  Of course you do and you also know that those types of stories never have a happy ending.

Adam Sandler’s performance is unparalleled.  It’s grounded, nuanced and encompasses all of his quirks and idiosyncrasies to his advantage.  Enhancing his performance is Idina Menzel, the legendary Tony winner and voice of Elsa in the Frozen franchise.  Her performance as his fed up wife Julia is simply stunning, with just the right amount of acerbic sarcasm blended with masked empathy that makes Menzel very interesting to watch.

Writers and directors Benny and Josh Safdie create a world within the nooks and crannies of New York City that are laden with intrigue, drama and. unsavory shenanigans.  The final 15 minutes will blown your top off.

Uncut Gems, centers around a rare jewel believed to have special agenting power, creates a dramatic roller-coaster ride infused with professional ball players, schemers and a man with a dream gone terribly left.  You’re gonna love it! Produced by A24, Uncut Gems drops in limited release on December 13 and nationwide on  Christmas Day.