Review: Criterion's 'Uncut Gems' an Exercise in Anxiety-Inducing Chaos

If you had told the adolescent 12-year-old me that the silly buffoon from films like "Happy Gilmore," "Billy Madison," "The Waterboy," and "Big Daddy" would eventually go on to have not one, but two films within the Criterion Collection, I wouldn't have believed you. Well, to be honest, I probably wouldn't have understood too clearly at that time given my ignorance to the Criterion Collection's existence, but I would've gotten the gist that there was something clearly differentiating this distinguished home media company with Sandler's filmography. I may have been only 12, but I knew there was something different between films like "Citizen Kane" and "Little Nicky".

Still, Sandler has surpassed those expectations in his 21st century output. He still puts out works of pure commercial juvenility like "Grown Ups" and "Jack & Jill" through his Happy Madison production company, but he's also tackled adventurous roles with exciting directors like Paul Thomas Anderson and Noah Baumbach. And now joining the collection (in 4K Ultra HD!) is "Uncut Gems," the 2019 exercise in anxiety-inducing chaos amidst darkly comical city streets, by Josh and Benny Safdie. The pair of brother filmmakers followed up their equally frenzied "Good Time" with "Gems," paving the way for a masterfully controlled, yet unrestrained, performance by Sandler as Howard Ratner. Howie, a compulsive gambler and self-destructive sociopath, is a revelation for Sandler, who has channeled his angry man-child energy of his youth to bring forth amazing performances the last twenty years. "Uncut Gems" is now in great company with "Punch-Drunk Love," Sandler's other claim to fame within the Criterion Collection.

Criterion ventured into the 4K Ultra HD market this past year, and "Uncut Gems" was supposed to be one of their first releases before getting slightly delayed. But now it's here in full visual glory with a soundtrack that absolutely kicks, amplifying the anxiety to cinema-quality levels. And for collectors, the generous assortment of supplemental material can't be beat. These bonus features include:

�Audio commentary from 2019 featuring the Safdies, writer and editor Ronald Bronstein, and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard
�New interviews with cinematographer Darius Khondji, costume designer Miyako Bellizzi, production designer Sam Lisenco, and casting director Jennifer Venditti
�Documentaries from 2019 and 2020 on the making of the film and soundtrack
�Screen test featuring actors Adam Sandler and Julia Fox
�"Goldman v Silverman," a 2020 short film by the Safdies, featuring Sandler and Benny Safdie
�"Question & Answer," a 2020 short film featuring the Safdies, Sandler, actor Jason Bateman, and comedy writer Megan Amram
�Audition tapes
�Deleted and extended scenes, including a full performance of "The Morning" by The Weeknd
�Trailers
�An essay by film critic J. Hoberman and, for the 4K UHD and Blu-ray editions, a 2020 discussion of the film by the editorial staff of Jewish Currents magazine

"Uncut Gems" is now available on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray combo pack from Criterion Collection for the suggested retail price of $39.96