Uncut Gems
Uncut Gems is a 2019 American crime thriller film directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bronstein. It stars Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, and Eric Bogosian. The film tells the story of Howard Ratner (Sandler), a Jewish-American jeweler and gambling addict in New York City's Diamond District, who must retrieve an expensive gem he purchased in order to pay off his debts. Filming took place from September to November 2018. The original score was composed by Daniel Lopatin. Uncut Gems is the last film directed by the Safdie brothers before dissolving their partnership in 2024.
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| Running time | 135 minutes
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| Country | United States
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| Language | English
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| Budget | < $20 million
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| Box office | $50 million
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![Adam Sandler - SoFilm Magazine Cover [Spain] (February 2020)](http://img3.bdbphotos.com/images/130x130/a/7/a760cst6p0hksp6k.jpg?skj2io4l)
Steve Bronstein: What happened to Friday?
Howard Ratner: I know. I know.
Steve Bronstein: It's Monday, Howard.
Howard Ratner: I know what we said.
Steve Bronstein: What'd we say?
Howard Ratner: It was a short week, Pesach...
Steve Bronstein: What happened to your face?
Howard Ratner: Car accident. 'K? So...
Steve Bronstein: Whaddya need?
Howard Ratner: I need the Celtic ring, and then I give ya the Knicks ring. All right? You know what that means to me. Swap 'em out, please.
Steve Bronstein: You've had this Knicks ring forever.
Howard Ratner: I just need the Celtic ring back. All right?
Steve Bronstein: No...
Howard Ratner: Whadda you wanna do?
Steve Bronstein: No...
Howard Ratner: Whadda you wanna do?
Steve Bronstein: I own that ring. Right now.
Howard Ratner: I know. I know you do, and I'm...
Steve Bronstein: So, I'll swap you the two rings but I'm gonna put a fifteen percent vig on this one. And if you're not here by Friday it's gonna be the same thing all over again, you're not gonna have a third one.
Howard Ratner: You're not gonna have to worry about that, I make it a sixteen percent. I'm sorry I fucked ya. But I...
Steve Bronstein: Bubi, what's goin' on? You okay?
Howard Ratner: I'm - very good. Everything is goin' good.
Steve Bronstein: Yeah.
Howard Ratner: I promise you. I promise you.
- A November 2018 Collider article by Jeff Sneider reported that this movie's producers were at one time considering current or former NBA players Amar'e Stoudemire and Joel Embiid for the role ultimately played by former NBA player Kevin Garnett.
- The Safdie Brothers wanted to make this film since 2009 and prior to Good Time (2017), but couldn't get the project off the ground due to lack of financing. During that waiting period, Robert Pattinson contacted the brothers and said he wanted to work with them after he discovered the photo/poster of actress Arielle Holmes covered in pink neon light from their previous film Heaven Knows What (2014) on the internet. After they met with Pattinson, liking him and being inspired by his energy, the Safdie's spontaneously started to write Good Time (2017) with him in mind. After the film's premiere in Cannes and the following critical success, the brothers found themselves getting calls from Hollywood executives with offers including a big-budget superhero movie, which they declined and instead secured financing for Uncut Gems.
- Kevin Garnett's and The Weeknd's feature film debut.
- Howard Ratner is based on a man also named Howard, who Josh and Benny's dad worked for in the Diamond District back in their childhood.
- The first draft of the script was written in 2009. In 2012, the Safdie Brothers gave Adam Sandler the screenplay, which he declined. When the movie got financed after the success of Good Time in 2017, the role went to Jonah Hill, then back to Adam Sandler in April 2018.
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