Adam Sandler has spent over two decades cranking out comedies where he sometimes gets to put on a silly voice and hang out with his friends, but every now and again he splices in movies that show his dramatic range, like PUNCH DRUNK LOVE and THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES. This year he will be adding another entry into the latter category with UNCUT GEMS from directors Josh and Benny Safdie (2017’s GOOD TIME), and with the announcement that it’s made the lineup for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the first image has dropped of Sandler in the role, rocking a leather jacket and a slick earring.
Sandler was cast in the movie back in 2018 after GOOD TIME put the brothers on everyone’s radar, and soon UNCUT GEMS became a movie for cinephiles to look out for for several reasons. You can look at the image above, and while it may not be much, fans of the brothers’ last movie can perhaps already picture Sandler in what will surely be another fast-paced, exhilarating effort from the duo.
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On that note, TIFF artistic director Cameron Baily spoke with IndieWire about the movie, saying Sandler indeed gives one of the best performances of his career, and fans of the Safdies will walk away pleased.
“It’s probably the most Safdie movie you’ve ever seen. It moves at a breakneck pace. It’s cranked up to 11 the whole time, it’s exhilarating to watch, Adam Sandler gives his very best performance since ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ and Kevin Garnett is in it, so it’s got something for everybody. They shot everything on [35mm] so even though it’s a bigger movie for them it’s got a real gritty quality.”
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The movie also stars Lakeith Stanfield, Idina Menzel, Judd Hirsch, Eric Bogosian, Pom Klementieff, and if you’re wondering what the movie is about, here's the synopsis via the TIFF website:
From acclaimed filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie comes an electrifying crime thriller about Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score. When he makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime, Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
UNCUT GEMS will debut at TIFF this September.