Review of Uncut Gems (2019) by Zmgalen2000 — 05 Jan 2020

Messy: a broad umbrella term that encapsulates all of what "Uncut Gems" is. The film is a two-hour cringefest thanks to its sporadic unsettling visuals (a colonoscopy with no plot relevance, really!?) and a multidirectional plotline laced with interminable violence. The pacing of the film was so rapid-fire that I found myself without any time to catch my breath or process what I had just learned/seen. Having to check my phone to understand who was who and what was going on (seriously), I missed the next detail of the movie. Not to mention that the plotline was met with an abrupt and nonconclusive ending.

However, where the film redeems itself is in its engagement by virtue of strong acting performances and character development from Sandler and Menzel. The embodiment of fictional characters as portrayed by these actors develops an emotional bond with the audience, leading to an instantaneous investment in the film's endeavors. Plus, there is something to be said for a messy plot that plays mind games: you seek for answers. Unfortunately, I left the theater unsatisfied with the ambiguity that was both preestablished and unanswered.