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'Uncut Gems': A Christmas release, really?

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Posted on December 26, 2019 at 10:19:54
Billy Wonka
Audiophile

Posts: 3765
Joined: April 25, 2013
Contributor
  Since: October 15, 2013
 After five minutes I felt like I needed a shower. The soundtrack and the frenetic pace, in concert with all the sleaziness, was over the top. I guess this was Sandler's shot at getting some drama cred.

Sandler played a gambling addict that just couldn't leave well enough alone. When he is about to get straight another fantastic betting oppportunity arises and he digs another hole leading to lies, deceit, and muscle guys looking to collect.

Yes, there were some really good performances by supporting cast and the film rolled and began on an odd tangent. When I got to my car I sprayed down with Axe to feel clean again. (That's a joke, son.)

This is a 50/50 for me.

 

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RE: 'Uncut Gems': A Christmas release, really?, posted on January 4, 2020 at 19:39:19
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12374
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001
 I found this to be a caricatured (presumably) and rather disturbing portrayal of a NYC subculture. The mood was frantic edgy-dread from the opening scene right thru an ending that was expected at numerous points earlier in the film. Casting and acting was pretty darn good and there may be new horizons for Sandler. Interesting original score too...reminiscent of Apocalypse Now in both style and instrumentation. OTOH, I walked out shaking my head wondering how this story made it to the big screen in fairly wide distribution. No high message was conveyed and there's already more than enough real-life human generated misery out there.

Not sure who this was aimed at. Definitely not for everyone. Probably not for very many at all.

 

I reduxed . . . , posted on January 5, 2020 at 15:00:28
Billy Wonka
Audiophile

Posts: 3765
Joined: April 25, 2013
Contributor
  Since: October 15, 2013
 I just wanted to see if I was being too harsh on Sandler and film. I have softened from sleazy drama to sleazy dramedy. Yes, there was a lot of humor and I remember Sandler's fondness for "sending up Jews". I now see this as more of a "send-up" than a serious drama. It's all the over-the-top behavior and dialog that is so concentrated it hurts. The film presents a problem in that it can be seen as a dramatic comedy or a serious indictment of Jews. It depends on your level of cultural involvement.

Another aspect of the film is sports-betting. I know sports bettors appreciate movies of this nature which actually build betting tension and can project vicariously. Plus, the rather good debut of Kevin Garnett playing himself as an active player, hence the timeframe of the film.

The ending is dramatic and leaves a lot of question marks. As you said, the target market for this film to be fully appreciated is very small, indeed.

PS. His apartment stereo was blaring loudly when he reached down and snapped it off. It was McIntosh for about two seconds screen time.

 

RE: I reduxed . . . , posted on January 6, 2020 at 18:35:38
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12374
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001
 Guess I didn't see much comedy in this film unless extreme caricature, excess and irony count. The Mercedes trunk scene was maybe a little humorous as was the apartment bathroom situation/follow up conversation with his son and the "hostage" situation near the end. The transition from the ethereal eye-of-the-universe in the opal to a colonoscopy of all things was also weirdly humorous. But overall, even these comedic lapses seemed designed to accentuate the seriousness and inevitability of the unfolding tragedy. I didn't see any of this as an indictment of Jews as such. The Jewish connection was just a vehicle or plot device and could have been any number of other cultural stereotypes. Humans in general seem to have an innate capacity for sleaze. The whole Manhattan diamond district thing just seemed "convenient". Overall, a tragedy IMO.

I did see the Mac and was going to point it out to my movie-going guest but decided to keep such audio nerdiiness to myself.

 

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