Uncut Gems
The brief
The Safdie brothers turn anxiety into an art form with this relentless two-hour panic attack that follows Adam Sandler's gambling-addicted jeweler through the absolute worst week of his life. Sandler delivers his best performance in decades, channeling his manic energy into a character so self-destructive you'll want to reach through the screen and shake him. Every scene ratchets up the tension until you're physically uncomfortable, with the camerawork and Daniel Lopatin's synth score making you feel trapped in Howard's claustrophobic world of bad decisions. Perfect for anyone who loved Good Time or enjoys the specific torture of watching someone make every wrong choice possible.
The verdict
If you have a high tolerance for anxiety and love watching brilliant actors make spectacularly bad decisions, this is Adam Sandler's career-best performance wrapped in two hours of pure cinematic stress. If you prefer movies that don't make you physically uncomfortable or need protagonists you can actually root for, this relentless panic attack will leave you exhausted for all the wrong reasons.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for maximum anxiety immersion
- ⚠️ Skip if you're sensitive to financial stress
Heads up
- Intense gambling addiction portrayal (frequent)
- Strong language throughout (frequent)
- Financial stress and debt themes (moderate)
- Brief violence and threats (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
- Cast
- Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Eric Bogosian, Judd Hirsch
Official synopsis
A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both feature mentally unstable protagonists spiraling through violent urban anxiety.
Total runtime: 2h 16m + 1h 29m = 3h 45m
