Happy Monday! I hope you’re having a great holiday weekend. This weekend, our little group of movie lovers hit 1,000 subscribers! Thank you so much for going on this journey with me. Don’t forget to subscribe:
Today’s movie is Uncut Gems (2019), streaming on Netflix, a crime thriller and sixth film by the Safdie brothers (Josh and Benny) that took the film world by storm, became indie studio A24’a highest-grossing release, and very nearly nabbed Adam Sandler his first Oscar nomination. Maybe next time, Sandler.
Here’s what it’s about: Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a diamond dealer in New York who is always looking for the best way to make big money—that usually means making high-risk bets that don’t always pay off. Over the course of a few days, he must find a way to pay off his debts before it’s too late. [Trailer // 135 mins]
Why you should watch it: Uncut Gems is really just a series of unfortunate decisions that cascade into an uncontrollable ball of chaos and discomfort. Instead of slowly ratcheting up the tension, the Safdies turn it up to the highest level and keep it there for the entire film. As uncomfortable as it is, it’s what makes the movie great. Sandler plays Howard as a man you can almost root for. You admire his sheer will and motivation—yet he always manages to disappoint you with the wrong decision.
There’s an unstoppable anxiety-inducing momentum that feels like a train wreck happening onscreen, but one you can’t look away from. But as much as it seems like the movie is going off the rails it’s clear that the Safdies are always in control. The frenetic editing, cosmic score by Daniel Lopatin, and truly remarkable performance by Sandler are designed to make you feel uneasy—it’s challenging to get through. And it’s a challenge I will happily take on over and over again. [Full review]
📺 Buy or Rent: Prime Video | iTunes | YouTube
Pair it with 🍷
Good Time (dir. Josh and Benny Safdie): Robert Pattinson plays Connie Nikas, a career criminal with a Queens accent and a mentally disabled brother, Nick (Ben Safdie, who also co-directs, co-writes, and co-edits). When a job goes south, Connie spends most of his night conning and grifting his way through the city to make things right. It doesn’t go well. [Full post]
You Were Never Really Here (dir. Lynne Ramsey): Joe (Joaquin Phoenix), an army veteran, is a hired gun who tracks down kidnapped children. His handler John McCleary (John Doman) delivers him a new job to track down the kidnapped daughter (Ekaterina Samsonov) of a New York State Senator. However, the job quickly spirals out of control. [Full post]
One random movie thought 💭
After hitting 1,000 subscribers my first overwhelming feeling was gratitude, which had me thinking of the final monologue of Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (full post here).
What I love about this scene is that the screenplay doesn’t perfectly explain the final product. It’s a testament to the assured directorial vision that Gerwig had on her own work that what we see on the screen is even more powerful than what’s on the page. Her brilliant use of cross-cutting and Saoirse Ronan’s deliberate delivery make this monologue incredibly impactful.
You’re all the greatest. Have a terrific week.
See you Thursday —
Karl (@karl_delo)