Starring: Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Eric Bogosian, Judd Hirsch, Paloma Elsesser, Keith Williams Richards, Mike Francesa, Jonathan Aranbayev, Noa Fisher, The Weeknd, Pom Klementieff
OUR RATING: ★★★½
Story:
Crime comedy drama directed and co-written by Josh and Benny Safdie. Set in the diamond district of New York City, Uncut Gems follows Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a jewelry dealer to the rich and famous with a gambling addiction while trying to handle two relationships and debts at once. When he makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime, Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
Our Favorite Quotes:
'Everything I do, it's not going right, and I don't know what to do.' - Howard Ratner (Uncut Gems) Share on X 'If you want to go quickly, do it alone. But if you want to go far, you do it together.' - Doc Rivers (Uncut Gems) Share on X
Best Quotes
Howard Ratner: [going through Julia’s photos] And who is this guy?
Julia: It’s this guy, The Weeknd.
Howard Ratner: What the f*** is The Weeknd?
Julia: He’s going to be major, even though he’s from Canada.
Howard Ratner: This guy looks stupid.
Howard Ratner: KG, doc know you’re here, by the way?
Kevin Garnett: No, he doesn’t. And let’s keep it that way. Alright?
Howard Ratner: It’s game night. You should be stretching out.
Demany: He’s f***ing insane.
Kevin Garnett: I was about to say, what is he, your coach?
Demany: No, he’s just a f***ing crazy-a** Jew.
Yussi: [as Howard is distracted by the opal he’s received] There’s a lot of people I could be doing business with other than you, Howard. You’re falling apart. You’re looking like a fool out here in the Diamond District.
Kevin Garnett: [referring to the opal in Howard’s jewelry store] Why has it got so many colors in it, man? What is this?
Howard Ratner: That’s the thing. They say you can see the whole universe in opals. That’s how f***ing old they are.
Kevin Garnett: Holy s**t.
Howard Ratner: I’ve been telling you. That’s why I wanted you to see it.
Kevin Garnett: How do I get it? I’ve got to have it.
Demany: Your a** is crazy, man.
Howard Ratner: F***ing from stone to stone. Garnet is a stone. You know that.
Howard Ratner: That’s a million dollar opal you’re holding. Straight from the Ethiopian Jewish tribe. I mean, this is old-school, middle-earth s**t.
Kevin Garnett: You got a m**herf***ing dinosaur gem in this b**ch.
Howard Ratner: The dinosaur, that’s right. The dinosaurs are f***ing staring at this thing. It’s a hundred and ten million years old, at the least.
Gary: What do you know?
Howard Ratner: I don’t know. I just know.
Gary: Well, I tell you what I know. That’s the dumbest f***ing bet I ever heard of.
Howard Ratner: I disagree. I disagree, Gary.
Howard Ratner: [after Arno and his men grab hold of him for failing to pay his loan] What’s happening right now?
Arno: I told you how things were going to go if you didn’t start to behave.
Howard Ratner: What? How was I not behaving? Explain to me. I’m sorry.
Arno: I think I was very explicit on the phone about how things were going to go. You like the way things are going now, huh?
Arno: I heard you’ve resurfaced your f***ing swimming pool! Do you know how that makes me feel?!
Howard Ratner: I never resurfaced anything!
Arno: You think your life is more important than mine?
Howard Ratner: I don’t know who said that!
Arno: You think I’m stupid, Howard! You and your whole f***ing family!
Howard Ratner: I’ll call the book right now. You can get on the phone with him, he’ll tell you.
Phil: I saw your bookie! You’re talking about Gary?
Howard Ratner: You spoke to Gary about what? About what?
Arno: About you. About how you’re taking my money all over town, placing bets. You know what that does to me? You know how offensive that is to me?
Howard Ratner: What? You stopped the bet?
Phil: What do you think, a**hole?
Howard Ratner: You stopped the bet?
Phil: [hits Howard] Shut the f*** up!
Dr. Blauman: [over phone, confirms to Howard cancer test results are clean] I didn’t mean to scare you, but, you know, given your family history, this is something you got to stay on top of.
Howard Ratner: I know. I know. Jews and colon cancer. What is that? I thought we were the chosen people.
Howard Ratner: [as they’re watching Garnett play basketball on the TV] That f***ing guy tried to steal an opal from me.
Gooey: Your opal? Your opal came? Yeah?
Howard Ratner: The opal came, yeah. Yeah. Stupidly I lent it to this m**herf***er.
Gooey: No. What do you mean? He took it? He stole it?
Howard Ratner: He didn’t steal it. He got carried away. He thinks it has magic powers to help him.
Noah: Magic powers?
Howard Ratner: Yeah.
Gooey: No, really?
Howard Ratner: Look. Look at him tonight without it. He didn’t have it tonight. Look how f***ing bad he played. He wants to own it. So I tell him come to the auction, and f***ing make a bid for it, like everyone else.
Howard Ratner: I made a crazy risk, a gamble, and it’s about to pay off.
Howard Ratner: I’m having very serious second thoughts. And we’re all together right now. We’re all so comfortable. Is it too late? Should we maybe, what do you think? Am I crazy?
Dinah Ratner: Are you serious right now?
Howard Ratner: Yeah, I know. I know I f***ed up. I know it.
Dinah Ratner: Yeah, you f***ed up.
Howard Ratner: I have no right.
Dinah Ratner: You are a f***-up, and I’m not having this conversation.
Howard Ratner: Look in my eyes, and they’ll tell you what I’m feeling. Please. Please. Okay. What are you thinking? What? Tell me. Tell me. I want to know.
Dinah Ratner: [laughing] Oh, my God.
Howard Ratner: I know. What?
Dinah Ratner: Your face is so stupid.
Howard Ratner: [referring to his affair with Julia] It means nothing. It meant nothing. Please. I’m begging you. Just give me another shot.
Dinah Ratner: You know what, Howard?
Howard Ratner: Say yes. What?
Dinah Ratner: I think you are the most annoying person I have ever met. I hate being with you. I hate looking at you. And if I had my way, I would never see you again.
Howard Ratner: That’s because you’re mad. You’re mad, and it makes sense. You can punch me if you want.
Dinah Ratner: [goes to punch Howard, but he pulls back] Oh, thanks. Hey!
Howard Ratner: I was ready for it.
Dinah Ratner: I don’t even want to touch you.
Howard Ratner: [breaks down after getting beaten up by Arno and his men] Don’t look at me, please. I don’t know what I’m thinking. I don’t know what everybody is… It’s not ever going right.
Julia: [comfortingly] I know. I know.
Howard Ratner: I’m so sad. I’m so f***ed up! I’m so f***ed up.
Julia: Hey, I’m really upset too. I’m sorry if this has anything to do with me. But I swear I really didn’t do anything.
Howard Ratner: I wish you were nicer to me though. It was not nice what you did to me.
Julia: I try, but it’s really hard.
Howard Ratner: I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have any place to go. I don’t have anywhere to get better.
Julia: But you do. Like really, Howard. You’re my home. You could come to me.
Howard Ratner: I can’t figure it out. I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to do! Everything I do, it’s not going right! Everything I do, it’s not going right, and I don’t know what to do. I really don’t, and I don’t want anymore of this s**t. I really don’t. I got to figure this out. I got to figure this out. I really do.
Kevin Garnett: [after he comes to Howard’s store wanting to buy the opal again] Ever since I met you, man, you’ve been giving me the run-around with everything, man.
Howard Ratner: What do you mean?
Kevin Garnett: And I feel like you’re f***ing with my emotions! You just playing with me at some point. This hasn’t been straight since I came here. You understand?
Howard Ratner: Why are you saying that?
Kevin Garnett: Since I borrowed the opal. It’s just one thing. You know, I come back over here. I brought it back. Howard, I brought it back. I didn’t have to bring it back. Do you understand? You know, I show up at the auction. You had somebody bid against me. All these f***ing games. Like, what the f*** are you doing, man? Like, you don’t know. You don’t think I know this? You don’t think I know none of this?
Howard Ratner: [takes off his glasses to show his beaten face] It’s complicated, KG. You see this face? You see this?
Kevin Garnett: Man, there’s a hundred and sixty-five thousand right here. Cash.
Howard Ratner: I’m showing you because it wasn’t easy, man.
Howard Ratner: [as he becomes obsessed with betting on Garnett’s game] Come on, KG. This is no different than that. This is me. Alright? I’m not a f***ing athlete. This is my f***ing way. This is how I win. Alright? All the f***ing hard work I do. All the f***ing a** kicking and the dues I pay? You’re not going to score on the big one on game seven? F*** these people, right? That’s how you feel. I know you do. So, look, let’s f***ing bet on this. Let’s bet on this s**t.
Howard Ratner: [referring to the money Garnett paid him for the opal] I’m f***ing going to bet all this money on you tonight, KG. You’re here to win, KG. These f***ers don’t know. Them out f***ing west? Do you think they f***ing know you? They don’t know you. They don’t know us. It’s about f***ing winning. It’s about you, and I saw your f***ing conviction, your f***ing honesty, and your f***ing magic.
Kevin Garnett: Howard, you’re talking crazy, man.
Howard Ratner: Listen, you even understand how f***ing great of a game you’re going to have tonight? I know it.
Kevin Garnett: Listen.
Howard Ratner: We’re a team tonight, KG. This is a f***ing lock. It’s a f***ing feeling. We both have it. They don’t know. You and I know. Alright?
Howard Ratner: [as Phil and Arno come to collect his debts] Arno, you’re never going to believe this s**t.
Arno: Believe what?
Howard Ratner: We’re about to hit so goddamn big. KG was just here. You saw him, right? I gave him the gem. He’s going to f*** up the moneyline so bad tonight.
Arno: Howard, where is the money right now?
Howard Ratner: It’s on the way right now. It’s on the way to the casino.
Arno: What? What the f*** are you talking about, Howard?
Dinah Ratner: [over phone, after Howard locks Arno and his men in the security vestibule in his store] You are not making any sense, Howard.
Howard Ratner: I’m not here to argue with you! Dinah, get the kids out of the house! I’m frightened, okay?
Dinah Ratner: You’re freaking me out.
Howard Ratner: Just get out. Go to Amy’s, and do not leave there until I get home.
Dinah Ratner: Oh, my God.
Howard Ratner: You promise me? Stay at her house, okay?
Dinah Ratner: Okay. You’ll meet us there?
Howard Ratner: Yes!
High Roller: [to Julia as he’s taking her to the casino in his helicopter] Last year I made a hundred and twenty-five million dollars, and I don’t even know what to do with my money anymore. I have nobody to spend it with, nobody to enjoy my life with anymore. It’s horrible. Today is the big day for me. I met you. You’re hot. You want to have a drink when we get there?
Phil: [looking at Howard through the security vestibule] You having a good time?
Howard Ratner: [smiles] Yes.
Howard Ratner: This is the beauty of betting. This is the beauty of betting, you know? I’m f***ing pulling for the Celtics. I’m a Knicks fan. If the f***ing twelve year-old version of me saw me right now, he’d be like, “What the f***?”
Doc Rivers: [giving a speech in the locker room to the players] If you want to go quickly, do it alone. But if you want to go far, you do it together. We’re like roaches, and you can’t kill us.
Arno: [after Howard wins his bet on Garnett’s game, Phil shoots him in the head] What the f*** did you just do?! What the f***?
Phil: Shut up!
[as Arno tries to escape, he then shoots Arno, then Phil and Nico loot the store]
Trailer:
Very good!
I was hoping for the KG quotes at the end of the basketball game with the interviewer.