Uncut Gems Review: 6 Ups & 3 Downs

5. A Highly Compelling Story

At its heart, Uncut Gems is the story of a man longing to be better than he actually is. That lends itself nicely to a double entendre of sorts because while it might sound like a tale of self-betterment, that's not really what the film is concerned with. Howard knows he ain't all that, but he wants to be perceived as such and thus, it follows his desperate exploits to pay off his debts and, in the process, details how he continues to venture down that slippery slope of gambling and debt. He takes risks because he thinks they payoff will be worth it - even though it never is.

The irony is that Howard's desires to be seen as more than a joke - hence betting everything on this rare opal - is what is single-handedly making him worse. It feeds into his impulsiveness - strengthening his character flaw and leaving us wondering if he can win in a battle that he is already losing for himself? And that makes for a high compelling narrative.

That narrative, however, is elevated by the way in which it is written...