Uncut Gems: Adam Sandler in Safdie Brothers crime caper

Adam Sandler and drama are two concepts rarely placed together. Of course, he proved his acting chops over a decade ago to heartbreaking results in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love, but his regular goofy mode is the one that cemented his status as a staple of low-brow comedy.

What past collaborations have told us is that all Adam Sandler needs is a great director to collaborate with. The actor is slowly making his way back into the prestige fold – he starred in Noah Baumbach’s underrated The Meyerowitz Stories, but it’s his turn in the upcoming Uncut Gems that has generated stratospheric levels of hype.

Uncut Gems is the latest film from the fraternal directing duo Josh and Benny Safdie. The pair have a knack for heart-racing suspense and thrills, earning career-best performances from their actors by putting them through the wringer. The evidence lies in their previous feature: the relentless and deceivingly-named Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson.

Fittingly, the diamond district of New York City serves as the backdrop to this crime caper. At the centre is Howard Ratner (Sandler), a jewellery store owner who goes to extreme lengths to recuperate his losses when he makes a series of high-stakes bets. Details are sparse beyond that other than the film’s cast: the always reliable Laketih Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You), as well as Idina Menzel and, interestingly, The Weeknd in his acting debut.

Every element in this equation is so perfectly calculated that something would have to go monumentally wrong to make Uncut Gems a disappointment. Keep your eyes peeled when it hits cinemas and comes to Netflix soon – Uncut Gems certainly looks to make a shining example of its star.