Uncut Gems

A wheeler-dealer jeweller in New York's diamond district believes an Ethiopian opal is the answer to all his problems in a breathless thrill-ride from sibling directors Benny and Josh Safdie. Adam Sandler is a revelation as incorrigible motormouth Howard Ratner, whose attempt to juggle family life and a young mistress with his addiction to sports gambling begins to fray when irate creditors and thuggish debt collectors come a-calling. Throw in real-life basketball star Kevin Garnett (playing himself), who becomes obsessed by the opal, and Ratner's hyperactive house of cards goes into a tailspin. Though set in 2012, the Safdies' follow-up to hustler-on-the-lam thriller Good Time is reminiscent of moody 1970s gems like The Gambler and Save the Tiger, while the clever combination of Darius Khondji's visuals and Daniel Lopatin's incisive electro score reinforces the sense of claustrophobia and desperation. Idina Menzel (as Ratner's miffed missus) and debuting Julia Fox (as his lover) stand out in a classy cast, but this is Sandler's show. It says a lot for his performance that despite Ratner being an infuriating risk junkie, you cannot help rooting for him, especially during the nerve-jangling climax.