Year: 2019
Director: The Safdie Brothers
This is latest film from the Safdie Brothers about whom I have to say I knew nothing before this. It’s in the cinemas but also available on Netflix which is how we watched it last night. There’s been generally really top reviews but having seen the trailer in the cinema the other week I was unsure as to whether it was going to my cup of tea (to quote Spike Lee). So we strapped ourselves in and it was an absolute thrill ride.
The basic premise is that Howard Ratner (must be a pun) is both a jeweler and compulsive gambler – possibly not a good combination you would think and so it proves. Without giving the plot away, the basic premise is that he procures a rare uncut opal from Africa which he is hoping to auction for a mighty profit but at the same time he is being hounded by several low lifes to whom he owes money.
The dialogue is basically people shouting and swearing at each other (the ‘fuck’ count was off the scale) with Howard generally having at least two conversations going on at the same time and with his phone (that never seemed to need charging?) permanently attached to his lughole. I suspect much of this must have been improvised – I cant imagine how it could have been fully scripted.
This is an absolute powerhouse performance by Adam Sandler whose early career started in a number of mainly forgettable comedies in the mid 90s. Of late though he has appeared in some more ‘grown up’ roles and was really good in the excellent ‘The Meyerowitz Stories’. Here he is a bundle of nervous energy, a man consumed by greed and with seemingly no redeeming qualities, hated by his family and permanently teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown for whole two and half hours but somehow never losing his optimism. The camera hardly ever leaves him and the film careers along like a celluloid heart attack.
We were exhausted at the end but you cant help but get carried along by the sheer momentum which just continues to build and build. There is also an unsettling electronic score which adds to the backdrop of panic and claustrophobia.
I cant think of what to compare this to but without doubt it is one of the cinematic events of recent times.
Might appeal to people who enjoyed:
I have no idea but certainly not early Adam Sandler comedies.
retropath2 says
Me and the missus also watched it last night. Astonishing bravura performance that careers along from catastrophe to crisis without a second of respite. Sandler manages to play a stereotypic Nicholas Cage type role with panache and believability. And Al Pacino’s delivery. As in, had Cage or Pacino played, it would have been risible, but possibly just as compelling.
Tiggerlion says
To be honest, I was disappointed. The best bit was the ending. I was relieved it was all over. I like watching Adam Sandler. He’s been in some naff films but he always manages to hold my attention. This is no exception. However, I felt the plot was mostly predictable, the dialogue tricky to follow and the music irritating. Sandler deserves praise for an unusual-for-him performance but the film itself should have been thirty minutes shorter.
OOAA
Feedback_File says
I started out thinking this is too in your face but I was drawn more and more in as it progressed. The dialogue is hard to follow at time but you can generally substitute the F , MF or CS words at any time and they would generally work!
Arch Stanton says
The Safdie Brothers previous film ‘Good times’ starring Robert Pattison is also on Netflix. That’s well worth a watch too.
retropath2 says
Agree: we just watched that too. Slightly more restrained, at least to start, before the whole shouty ADHD schtick kicks in. Very Moroderish soundtrack from Oneowtrix/Daniel Lapotin, who also scores Uncut Gems.
Twang says
I get AS confused with Jason Biggs.
John Walters says
Well … That was a tough ride. My nerves were well shredded by the end of this film.
Nearly gave up after 15 minutes in but I am glad that I stuck with it.
A film and performance to be admired rather than enjoyed ( could anyone really enjoy this ?)
I effin need to effin lie down and effin recover for a while now.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
We’ve tried twice now – 5 minutes then 10. Seems like we fucking need to get our fucking act together
retropath2 says
C’mon, nigga, bro’, get your shit done fucked!
Leicester Bangs says
Can I ask — does it build to something worthwhile? I’m about 40 mins in (the bit at his kid’s school play); I’m struggling, and if it’s going to be 90 minutes more of swearing followed by him getting shot in the back of the head at the end, I don’t think I’ll bother. If, however, it goes somewhere interesting, maybe I will….
Feedback_File says
I would say if not hooked after 40 minutes then give it a miss. I don’t think I would have lasted that long if I hadn’t got sucked in. I keep thinking back to this film though – it wasn’t ‘enjoyable’ in the traditional sense but has stayed with me which hasn’t happened with many films of late. The last thing I saw was 1917 last week which disappeared from my mind by the next day.
MisterPee says
Have you seen Joker? It’s fantastic.
Feedback_File says
Yes Joker was in some ways similar to UG but lacked the sheer propulsion of that film. Felt at time that I was watching Joaquin Phoenix overly trying to win an Oscar but it was a tour de force performance.
SteveT says
I just saw Joker last week and was genuinely transfixed. I thought both the performance and the story line were excellent and leave room for further development.