Uncut Gems

The thing that elevates it above all else is the frenetic energy that infuses every scene, yet calibrated so perfectly so that it stays, barely, on the right side of frustrating. There's nothing more thrilling than that.

It's a brilliantly exhausting movie that gaffer-tapes us to motormouth New York gem dealer and degenerate gambler Howard Ratner... The thrill and despair of the addict are palpable.

Having looked at it closely, I'd say it's being over-valued. But not by much.

A terrific, really convincing supporting cast, with not one single character that I didn't believe...

When relief finally comes, it's heartbreaking.

Uncut Gems is a fairytale written by the hand of capitalism, where mystical highs are followed by crushing blows -- and there's always a price to pay.

...downbeat and scuzzy, Uncut Gems may draw audiences keen to see more of Sandler, but this isn’t a feel-good movie in any way. It’s a character study...as rough, uneven and tricky as the anti-hero protagonist portrayed here...

It’s stressful and intense in tone, but Sandler’s performance and the confident, stylish direction from the Safdie Brothers keep the film a compelling, if not necessarily easy, viewing experience.

Put on a pair of headphones and watch it alone in the dark. It’ll be the best, worst experience you’ll have all year.

Regardless of how and why, Uncut Gems is a unique rollercoaster experience matched by nothing else in 2019.