“Uncut Gems”

By Josie Takeshima Allen

When people think of Adam Sandler movies, they often think of goofy, feel-good comedies. Their appeal is not in that they are good movies, but in that they never leave anyone feeling bad. They also left no lasting impression on me. “Uncut Gems” leaves viewers feeling like they have been punched in the gut (in the best way possible). 

Howie Ratner is a man caught in the grips of a gambling addiction, and he will do anything for his next hit. The movie depicts addiction in a way usually reserved for hardcore drugs. It is gritty, heartbreaking, and exhilarating. 

I found myself rooting for Howie in the same way that I root for characters in other movies, who do bad things because of their diseases. It is so clear that Howie spiraled out of control a long time ago and has no chance of quitting gambling on his own.  

But every time he had a chance to make things right, I wanted so badly for him to take it. But the mistakes he made began having higher and higher stakes and he was making them more and more often. By the end of the movie, I felt like I was Howie and that my money and my family was on the line. 

Don’t go into this movie expecting to feel good when you come out. That being said, I will remember this movie for years, and I think it is the best movie that Sandler has ever made.