10 Brilliant Movies That Surprised Everyone

Fans of the Safdie brothers’ breakthrough movie Good Time won’t have been too surprised at the quality of follow up Uncut Gems, but the real shock came in star Adam Sandler’s outstanding performance. He’s demonstrated his acting chops before, most notably in Punch Drunk Love, but never has he been so captivating.

As jeweller and gambling addict Howard Ratner, Sandler is nothing short of a revelation. He uses the same chops in his comedies as he does as a dramatic actor - he’s motor mouthed, explosive, and overconfident. He manages to make a troubled and troublesome character empathetic and even likeable as he peels back the layers of Howard’s desperation and compulsion that won’t allow him to live a peaceful life.

Uncut Gems itself is full of surprises, a breathless movie that will have you occupying the very edge of your seat for the majority of the runtime, and slumped on the floor come the incredible ending.

Sandler will be back in knockabout comedy mode before too long, but this is a welcome reminder of the breadth of his talent.