Zach’s Review
Uncut Gems is a loud, stressful movie that keeps you on edge from start to finish. Starring Adam Sandler, it tells the story of a New York jeweler who can’t stop gambling. After watching the movie multiple times, and doing a thoughtful analysis, I decided to rate this movie a 10/10.
Howard Ratner is always chasing his next big win. Early in the movie, he says, “This is how I win.” This line shows how he thinks—he believes risk is the only way forward. The film quickly shows how his choices hurt his family, his business, and himself.
As the story builds, Howard keeps digging himself deeper. He shouts, “I’m gonna make a crazy risk, a gamble, and it’s about to pay off!” This moment shows his mindset—he knows it’s dangerous, but he can’t stop.
The movie mixes quiet family moments with loud, chaotic scenes. This keeps the tension high and makes the audience feel nervous the whole time.
Near the end, the stress reaches its peak. Howard repeats, “This is me. This is how I win.” It feels like he is trying to convince himself as everything starts to fall apart.
The ending is shocking but also makes sense for his character. Right before everything changes, Howard finally seems happy and relieved, but the film reminds us that his lifestyle always comes with a cost.
In the end, Uncut Gems is messy, intense, and very real. It shows how addiction can take over someone’s life. The acting, especially from Adam Sandler, is powerful and different from his usual comedy roles. The movie is stressful to watch, but that’s what makes it so good. For me, it’s a perfect 10/10.
Nick’s Review
Greed and the trouble it creates for people, such as Adam Sandler’s character, Howard Ratner, is effectively what Uncut Gems is about. No matter how much he has, he is still unsatisfied enough to risk everything. Howard has a massive house, yet he wants even more than he already has. He is married with kids but is also sleeping with someone else. He has a massive inventory of fine jewelry and cash in his shop, yet that still is not enough for him, so he tries to find the biggest and riskiest way to win it.
The black opal, which is the key focus of the story’s conclusion, embodies Howard’s character. The opal is valuable but rough and very unpredictable, much like Howard. To Howard, the opal is more than just a gem, he sees it as his opportunity to finally become successful. As such, the thought of “one big score” is what keeps him going and the motivation behind every decision he makes, even if those decision aren’t necessarily smart.
The Safdie Brothers make the film feel like a lot of pressure. You feel the pressure throughout the movie from beginning to end. As you see the situation deteriorating, it will keep your heart racing until the final credits.
The music, camera work, and the disorderly appearance of the film all contribute to the pressure placed on the viewer’s heart and mind and create an atmosphere of a chaotic mindset as experienced by Howard.
Overall, Uncut Gems is an intense and stressful film but enjoyable. Adam Sandler’s performance brings veracity to the film making it a memorable watch but not necessarily an easy one to watch. For me, it’s an 8/10.
