With everyone’s favourite indie film distributor A24 already having potential Oscar-contenders like The Lighthouse, The Farewell, Midsommar and Waves on their books, it’s easy to forget they also have the hotly anticipated Uncut Gems on the horizon too. Coming from directors Josh and Benny Safdie, their follow-up to the phenomenal Good Time (2017) has premiered to critical acclaim and following a tease on Twitter last week, the film’s first trailer has been released.
I know what you’re thinking: is that ADAM SANDLER????? The answer, of course, is yes, which immediately makes Uncut Gems a film of some curiosity. To those who haven’t seen films like Punch-Drunk Love (2002) or The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), seeing Sandler in anything in other than his usual crowd-pleasing comedy roles will undoubtedly open your eyes to the sheer acting talent this man possesses. Much of the initial acclaim surrounding Uncut Gems points towards an Oscar-worthy turn by Sandler and this trailer is perfect in giving a glimpse of how the Safdies have again created a character, much like Robert Pattinson’s incredible turn as Connie in Good Time, that seems morally reprehensible but weirdly likeable, which is a hallmark of terrific acting.
Though the trailer does not offer much in terms of the overall plot, the official synopsis of the film is this: “A jewellery dealer to the rich and famous must find a way to pay his debts when his merchandise is taken from one of his top sellers and girlfriend.” This points to how the Safdies are again creating a narrative that wades into a seedy underworld and will clearly throw its protagonist into a manic, anxiety-inducing world that these directors are becoming synonymous with.
Stylistically speaking, the trailer can be easily compared to Good Time, which is by no means a bad thing. The focus on close-ups to extort the best out of the actors, the contrasting use of gritty-grey and blinding-neon colour palettes, as well as the synth-heavy Oneohtrix Point Never score that looms large in the background, help construct this beautiful, dangerous, dream-like world that both the audience and the characters on-screen will revel in. With Sandler in the lead role, the Safdies along with co-writer Ronald Bronstein seem to have definitely thrust humour into the spotlight more with Uncut Gems, which will surely offer respite from the batshit, rollercoaster ride this film seems like it’s going to be.
Whilst there’s no official UK release date, Uncut Gems is set to come out on the 13th of December in the US, so with luck, it will be out in the UK at a similar time. This certainly looks to be a film of major interest for the upcoming awards season, which will hopefully offer wider audiences chances to appreciate Sandler’s dramatic talents and help gain the gifted Safdie Brothers the recognition they deserve.
Words by Elliott Jones