Let me start of this blog with a few statements before you have a time to think of opinions and comments. First, this is my opinion, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but mine is usually better so go argue with a brick wall. Secondly, this is the best movie to watch in a theater, that means no scrolling through twitter or tik tok, no talking with someone else, just you, the big screen, surround sound preferably, and a big bucket of buttery popcorn. Now let's dig into this.
Uncut Gems is the best movie to see in theaters. Staring Adam Sandler, directed by the Safdie brothers. I will try and keep this spoiler free, well at least the big spoiler. Coming out in the fall of 2019, this A24 film literally took my breath away and it made me stand up and pace in the back of the movie theater while watching it.
Adam Sandler is a jewelry store owner with a little bit of a gambling problem, a little bit of a wife problem, and a little bit of a lying problem. And yes he is jewish in this film just like you thought. Just watch this trailer and tell me that this doesn’t get your heart racing.
This movie has it all if you’re a dude. Sports, gambling, Julia Fox. What more do you need. The Safdie brothers had to re write the script so many times. Both Benny and Josh Safdie are huge New York Knicks fans and wrote a script in 2010 with the same concept, but instead of Kevin Garnett it was supposed to be Amar'e Stoudimire, but the Safdie Brothers did not have enough street cred to get this film off the ground at the time. Then they wanted to make it present day in 2018 with Joel Embiid. But in usual Joel Embiid fashion, he failed to show up when the lights are bright. That's not true, I just wanted to make fun of Joel Embiid. The real reason why he wasn’t in the film was because he was too busy actually playing basketball to be in a movie about basketball. Finally landing on Kevin Garnett, the Safdie brothers were very satisfied after they rewrote the script over 160 times!!!
One thing I noticed about the movie that always kept my blood pressure up was that the camera angles are always so close to the actors. The dialogue in the movie is always fading in and out and you feel like you are in Adam Sandler's brain just as stressed out as he is. Uncut Gems also uses the word "fuck" over 500 times. I do not know about y'all, but when someone starts talking I am like half listening, but as soon as the word fuck is said I am fully paying attention because no one uses the word fuck when they are just joking around.
We have all been caught in a situation where we need to lie a little bit to keep a reputation. This is the ultimate movie for that. Howie Ratner, who Adam Sandler plays, needs to hit like three 6 leg parlays just to keep his head above water. And then as the movie goes on you realize that this is not a one time thing, this is how Howie lives. This movie demands your attention and if you look away for just one minute, you're completely lost in the story.
Not to mention this movie is filled with celebrity cameos. Sports radio legend Mike Francesa plays a pawn shop worker/bookie, Julia Fox is in it and boy does she keep your eyes glued to the screen if you know what I mean. And the whole side plot with The Weeknd. You ever thought you would see Adam Sandler try and fight The Weeknd, well it's in this movie.
This was the point in the movie where I was no longer lounging in the movie theater recliner, but sitting up, and eventually standing, and then pacing.
I would say that Uncut Gems is a mob movie, sports movie, and a love story, all wrapped up in one. The movie is constantly building up to something and it builds and it builds and it builds, until the movie ends in the only way that it can really end. The ending is a little controversial, but I believe that it is the only way that this movie could really end. If you try and watch it on a TV at home, or on your phone while in a long car ride, it just won't hit the same. I think that goes for all movies, but this one is the most drastic between good and great when it comes to how you watch it.
Please like and share with a friend or a cinephile. You can watch this movie only on Tubi right now, but it was re-released in theaters a few months ago for it's 5 year anniversary. I would keep an eye out if a theater near you is showing it for some reason, or if you got a buddy with a sweet movie viewing set up.
That is today's Tea, with T
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