Uncut Gems

Theatrical release poster

**Uncut Gems** is a 2019 American crime thriller film directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bronstein. The film stars Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner, a Jewish-American jeweler and gambling addict in New York City's Diamond District, who must retrieve an expensive gem he purchased to pay off his debts. The film also stars Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, LaKeith Stanield, and Judd Hirsch in supporting roles. Filming took place from September to November 2018. The original score was composed by Daniel Lopatin.

Uncut Gems had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2019. It entered into a limited release in the United States on December 13, 2019, before a wide release on December 25, by A24. The film received critical acclaim, especially for Sandler's performance. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2019, with Sandler also winning the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. It became A24's highest-grossing film domestically with $50 million.

## Plot

In 2010, Ethiopian Jewish miners retrieve a rare black opal from the Welomine in Africa. In 2012, gambling addictHoward Ratner runs KMH, a jewelry store in New York City's Diamond District. Howard struggles to pay off gambling debts, including $100,000 he owes to Arno, his loan shark brother-in-law. His domestic life is split between Dinah, his estranged wife who has agreed to a divorce after Passover, and his girlfriend Julia, a KMH employee.

Howard's business associate Demany brings basketball star Kevin Garnett to KMH. While he is there, the opal arrives, which Howard has ordered from Africa. Garnett becomes obsessed with it, insisting on holding onto it for good luck at his game that night. Howard reluctantly agrees, accepting Garnett's 2008 NBA Championship ring as collateral.

Immediately after Garnett leaves, Howard pawns the ring and places a six-way parlay on Garnett playing extraordinarily well in that night's game, which he does. Howard's bet should net him $600,000, but he is ambushed at his daughter's school play by Arno and his goons Phil and Nico. Arno reveals that he placed a stop on Howard's bet as it was made with money owed to him. Phil and Nico strip Howard naked and lock him in the trunk of his car, forcing him to call Dinah for help.

Howard meets Demany at a party hosted by The Weeknd to retrieve the opal. Demany says that Garnett still has the opal, angering Howard. Howard discovers Julia and The Weeknd snorting cocaine together in a bathroom, and gets into a fight with him. Feeling betrayed, Howard demands that Julia move out of his apartment. After an awkward Passover dinner, Dinah rejects Howard's plea to give their marriage another chance.

Garnett returns the opal before the auction and offers to purchase it for $175,000, but Howard refuses, given the substantially larger appraisal. Just before the auction starts, Howard discovers the opal has been appraised for significantly less than his initial estimate of $1 million. He convinces his father-in-law Gooey to bid on the gem to drive up the price, but the plan backfires when Garnett fails to top Gooey's final bid. A furious Gooey gives Howard the opal before Arno, Phil, and Nico assault Howard outside the auction house. Howard returns to KMH, bloody and in tears. Julia comforts him and they reconcile.

Howard learns that Garnett is still willing to purchase the opal and goes to KMH to pay Howard the cash. Arno, Phil and Nico arrive at KMH just before Garnett leaves, and Howard tells Julia to bet the cash on a three-way parlay on Garnett having a strong performance. Julia escapes as the thugs find Howard in his office and threaten him, while Julia travels by helicopter to Mohegan Sun to place the bet for him. Howard refuses to call Julia and cancel the bet. Furious, the three attempt to pursue her, but Howard locks them in between the store's security doors. Howard watches the game on TV while Arno, Phil and Nico remain trapped.

Garnett's Boston Celtics win the game, winning Howard $1.2 million. An ecstatic Howard frees Arno, Phil and Nico, but Phil, enraged, shoots Howard in the face, leaving him to die on the floor. Arno protests and tries to escape, but Phil shoots him in the forehead killing him. Julia leaves the casino with Howard's winnings. Phil and Nico loot the store.

## Cast

* Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner
* Julia Fox as Julia De Fiore
* Kevin Garnett as Himself
* LaKeith Stanfield as Demany
* Judd Hirsch as Gooey Ratner
* Idina Menzel as Dinah Ratner
* Eric Bogosian as Arno Moradian
* Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye as himself