Quite possibly Adam Sandler’s greatest performance, under the frantic filmmaking skill of the Safdie brothers, “Uncut Gems” really is the turn he deserved an Oscar for. As Howard Ratner, Sandler, who even performed a life-threatening stunt for the film, bobs and weaves through the unpredictable ordeals of New York City’s Diamond District, often causing more problems than he solves. There’s an energy here that really feels like nothing he’s done before, moving on a different kind of vibration that results in any viewer facepalming on repeat. Just when something can’t get any worse, Sandler’s Ratner dive-bombs through a problem to make it even more catastrophic, hooking audiences.
The film plays like an endurance test, which (and this is said in the most complimentary way), by the end, feels like a movie worthy of a single viewing so as not to go through it all again. Besides being listed as one of Sandler’s greatest, “Uncut Gems” also marked the final collaboration from the Safdie brothers before they parted ways. There’s no telling if the two will reunite further down the line, but as last efforts go, this is a high and teeth-gratingly brilliant exit to go on thanks to their leading man. No matter how much Howard claims that this is how he wins, we’re the real winners for being lucky enough to see Sandler at his finest.
