If you wereAdam Sandler, you’d putBenny Safdiein every movie of yours after extracting the best performance in your career from you. Among the star-studded cast inHappy Gilmore 2, Safdie, who co-directed Sandler inUncut Gemswith his brother,Josh Safdie, has a pivotal role as Frank Manatee, the CEO of the rivaling Maxi Golf league and overarching antagonist. When watching the new Netflix film, which is uniquely charming but ultimately frivolous, you’ll be reminded of the last time Sandler and Safdiegot together in 2019,where they brought magic to the screen in this bustling and frantic tale of gambling excess in the sportsbook and life in general.
Uncut Gemsis a stroke of directing brilliance on the Safdie Brothers' part, but it was Sandler’s moment to shine, as he made everyone forget about all his cinematic malpractice as a comedy star by giving an earth-shattering dramatic performance as someone who didn’t know how to fold ‘em and walk away.
Benny Safdie Channeled Adam Sandler’s Comedic Persona in ‘Uncut Gems’
Even withHappy Gilmore 2and the litany of silly Netflix comedies as of late, it’s no secret that Adam Sandler is a stellar dramatic actor when he wants to be and is paired with visionary directors likePaul Thomas Anderson,Noah Baumbach, and Benny Safdie, who co-directed Sandler to new heights of critical acclaim inUncut Gemsas Howard Ratner, a diamond dealer and compulsive gambler who puts his life on the line to chase the thrill of hitting a parlay or over/under. Safdie, who dares to unlockDwayne Johnson’s untapped dramatic chopsinThe Smashing Machine, has proven to be an exceptional actor-for-hire, leaving a mark on major auteur films likeOppenheimerandLicorice Pizza.
The best dramatic Sandler performances tap into the star’s comedic persona and invert it. P.T. Anderson first identified that Sandler’s man-child hostility could be translated into repressed anger and sweeping pathos, which set the tone for theactor’s dramatic breakthroughinPunch-Drunk Love.His exuberant, if not grating, personality displayed in various comedies is at the heart ofUncut Gems, where Sandler plays a garrulous, impulsive character whose traits put him in constant danger with bookies.
Howard’s vicious outbursts and emotional meltdowns are something out ofBig DaddyorLittle Nicky. The Safdies don’t run away from Sandler’s baggage, but rather, they embrace his volatility on screen. At any moment, Howard can win over everyone in the room (including NBA legendKevin GarnettandThe Weeknd) with his unlikely charisma, or he can place himself on the wrong end of a pistol for pushing things too far or refusing to shut up.The reckless abandonment, hostility, and delusional ambition that glorify Happy Gilmore only make Howard Ratner a tragic figure in the cutthroat world of the Diamond District.
Adam Sandler is a Lovable but Tragic Figure in ‘Uncut Gems’
Across an anxious and gut-wrenching two-plus hours of hysteria, Adam Sandler carriesUncut Gemson his shoulders in atour de force performancethat is darkly humorous, intense, and poignant. Beyond the rich parallels to Sandler’s work, the performance captures the raw dynamo of a hustler who lives for the next life-altering wager. It’s fitting that he takes such a liking to the titular gem with supposedly spiritual powers delivered to him, as Howard has a mythical aura to his Zen-like outlook on his go-for-broke nature.“This is how I win” is certainly meme-worthy, but it taps into the heart of this frantic milieu that the Safdie Brothers admire.
Despite his woeful flaws in his behavior and unconscionable instincts as a parent, the Safdies imbue Howard Ratner with much more sympathy and nuance than any of Sandler’s oddballs in a Happy Madison picture. Previously demonstrated byRobert Pattinson’s well-meaning but scrambled thief inGood Time, Howard gets chewed up and spat back out in this unforgiving world where he is anything but the top brass.
All his screaming and short-sighted wagers were justifiable for anyone to smack him in the face, butSandler’s ability todisplay an emotional breakdownamid a calamitous setback enhances the sheer tragedy of this character, a type of person you’re less likely to find in a gentrified New York City. Howard works as a representation of the themes conveyed by classic gangster pictures that underline that the euphoria of wealth and excess is nothing compared to the horror of the inevitable downfall, where you lose everything.
For some, watching Adam Sandler’s miraculous performance inUncut Gemsis frustrating. “Why can’t he just dothison the screen all the time?” is a fair question to ask, but Sandler’s stirring dramatic work succeeds due to its scarcity. Additionally, because his persona is unavoidable, his best dramatic turns are reflective of what you’llfind inGrown UpsandHubie Halloweenand lent with a touch of haunted emotional repression and turmoil. Josh and Benny Safdie found something within Sandler none of us could extract, but what they found was pure magic and a level of talent you’d bet your entire life savings on.
