Uncut Gems - Adam Sandler

[Jaddison]

Based of critical reviews went to see Uncut Gems. I had my doubts because it was Adam Sandler

I wish i could get my 2 hours plus back. I have no idea what the motive idea of the movie is supposed to be. Gambling addicts screwing up their lives has been done too many times. This time it is Jewish gambling addict in the New York jewelry district.

I have no idea what of many scenes were meant to communicate. The soundtrack was like some Tarrantinoesque schlock 70s thing.....which was obnoxious.

Anyone else see this and perhaps tell me this is some satire on stereotypical Jewish behavior...or something artsy?

[Jeff V]

I'll see it when appears on Prime or some other free service. Most of Sandler's movies make there in a couple of months. My wife loves him, and generally I'm amused by his movies (I seem to have a high tolerance when it comes to bad comedies).

[Jaymann]

Sandler played this one straight up and did a credible job. I would never watch one of his unfunny comedies. I was expecting more plot twists, but it failed to deliver. One nit to pick that bothered me:

Spoiler:

If you win that kind of money at a sports book they are going to report it to the IRS. I doubt if helicopter man would take a hit for the girl.

[dbt1949]

Personally I think he should get his jewels cut. Just saying that's all.................

[Jaddison]

Sandler played this one straight up and did a credible job. I would never watch one of his unfunny comedies. I was expecting more plot twists, but it failed to deliver. One nit to pick that bothered me:

Spoiler:

If you win that kind of money at a sports book they are going to report it to the IRS. I doubt if helicopter man would take a hit for the girl.

What did you think about the soundtrack? It was annoyingly distracting and there must be point but I don't know what the hell it is.

If you mean played it straight up by being obnoxious and generally detestable- yep nailed it but that may come naturally.

I am guessing there is back story to the character they never bothered to reveal- like how he got a Knicks 73 championship ring or why his father-in-law thought well of him.

[Jaymann]

Yeah, sometimes I couldn't hear the dialogue for the soundtrack, don't see the point of that.

[ImLawBoy]

I'll see it when appears on Prime or some other free service. Most of Sandler's movies make there in a couple of months. My wife loves him, and generally I'm amused by his movies (I seem to have a high tolerance when it comes to bad comedies).

I haven't seen it, but this is one of those times where Sandler isn't in a comedy. Similar to Punch Drunk Love (where he was actually pretty good), Sandler sometimes seems to want to redeem his normal crapfests with something arty. I actually heard there was some early Oscar buzz around this one, but I have no idea how legit that is.

[Isgrimnur]

It's not nominated in the Golden Globes on Sunday.

[Jaddison]

This is what I can't figure out about this movie. If you took every stereotype of a Jewish business owner and especially jewellery and said this is the role, a caricature of stereotypes then Sandler hit it out of the park. If it wasn't a caricature intentionally then Sandler took a role and turned it into a caricature.

I still can't fathom the soundtrack which was amateurish and garish unless that was the intent to have a soundtrack as ugly as the main character.

[Suitably Ironic Moniker]

So, what you’re saying is that you loved the soundtrack.

[McNutt]

I saw this last night. Sandler does a really good job with the role and showed me again that it's possible to like him as long as he's not making one of his usual comedies.

Overall, the movie was good, but not great. There are two reasons that kept me from loving it:

1. As mentioned, the music was just terrible. It was an extremely odd choice and didn't fit the film at all. Even the style of music was inappropriate.

Spoiler:

2. It's hard to get into a movie when the protagonist is such an unlikable piece of shit. He's a born loser and it's hard to watch someone make bad choices again and again.

There were some really good parts though:

Spoiler:

1. The feeling of despair when Arno tells him that he canceled the bet that would have solved his problems.
2. An appearance by John Amos, even if it is the shortest cameo in motion picture history.
3. An ending that felt surprising, but really was the only way this story could have ended.
4. A nice performance from Kevin Garnett.
5. Eric Bagosian. Fuckin' A, man, that dude is awesome. You could read the conflict in his eyes. He really wanted to hurt Howard, but he can only go so far because he married into that family. He was so relieved at the end when Howard's big bet won and not only would Arlo get paid, but he wouldn't have to hurt Howard.

[Combustible Lemur]

This is what I can't figure out about this movie. If you took every stereotype of a Jewish business owner and especially jewellery and said this is the role, a caricature of stereotypes then Sandler hit it out of the park. If it wasn't a caricature intentionally then Sandler took a role and turned it into a caricature.

I still can't fathom the soundtrack which was amateurish and garish unless that was the intent to have a soundtrack as ugly as the main character.

From the interviews I've heard, basically the safdie brothers grew up around this world and wanted to put it on film.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

[Jaddison]

I saw this last night. Sandler does a really good job with the role and showed me again that it's possible to like him as long as he's not making one of his usual comedies.

Overall, the movie was good, but not great. There are two reasons that kept me from loving it:

1. As mentioned, the music was just terrible. It was an extremely odd choice and didn't fit the film at all. Even the style of music was inappropriate.

Spoiler:

2. It's hard to get into a movie when the protagonist is such an unlikable piece of shit. He's a born loser and it's hard to watch someone make bad choices again and again.

There were some really good parts though:

Spoiler:

1. The feeling of despair when Arno tells him that he canceled the bet that would have solved his problems.
2. An appearance by John Amos, even if it is the shortest cameo in motion picture history.
3. An ending that felt surprising, but really was the only way this story could have ended.
4. A nice performance from Kevin Garnett.
5. Eric Bagosian. Fuckin' A, man, that dude is awesome. You could read the conflict in his eyes. He really wanted to hurt Howard, but he can only go so far because he married into that family. He was so relieved at the end when Howard's big bet won and not only would Arlo get paid, but he wouldn't have to hurt Howard.

I hear you but the thing is we get no clues to the backstory. Was he once a good man who lost is way? Was he always a POS but somehow kept it together until he couldn't? If so why does his father-in-law have such trust in him? Somehow for a sustained period of time he was obviously financially successful. Did his wife always dislike him...which seems unlikely. Horrible movie and worst soundtrack I have experienced hell the soundtracks to old school porn was better than this and they sucked big time.

[Eel Snave]

Spoiler:

The John Amos cameo

is something the Safdie brothers put in to tell you that, yeah, this guy sucks. They originally wanted Phylicia Rashad as someone that the audience would respect telling them that, yeah, Howard is a piece of shit and you're OK for thinking he's a piece of shit.

I liked it. Not all protagonists have to be heroes, you know?

[Jaddison]

I know the main character sucks in his current version but that doesn't mean he always did. The father-in-law. Married long enough to have 3 kids. Successful enough to have the house the car and afford an apartment in Manhattan. These don't mean he was different earlier in his life but he could have been- we have no clue as to why he is the way he is. It appears his GF loves for more than money- why? To me it is a mess of a movie with easily the most irritating soundtrack I have ever experienced.