Uncut Gems (2019)

Watching Uncut Gems is like riding shotgun with a guy who runs every red light while placing bets on his phone. Everyone talks over everyone, nonstop, and you’ll miss plenty of lines because three people are arguing about money at the same time. Some viewers will tap out from pure stress, and that’s fair. But Adam Sandler is unreal. He plays Howard as a man permanently mid-sprint, grinning through every disaster, certain the next bet is the one that fixes everything. Kevin Garnett, playing himself, is weirdly great, staring into a black opal like it’s showing him the future. Idina Menzel steals her scenes as a wife who is completely, totally done. LaKeith Stanfield’s Demany is the calmest person in the building, and even he’s sweating. The Safdies keep the camera tight and the synth score buzzing, so your shoulders never come down. An 8.4 because it’s 135 minutes of controlled chaos, and Sandler has never been better. $25.71 says you check a game score tonight and feel your pulse jump even though you didn’t bet a single cent.

What works: Adam Sandler gives a career-best performance as a gambler who can’t stop, and the Safdies build tension like a pressure cooker.

What doesn’t: The overlapping, shouted dialogue makes plenty of scenes hard to follow, and Howard’s endless bad decisions can wear you out.

Who it’s for: People who love a stressful thriller and want to see Adam Sandler prove he can do far more than goofball comedy.