Film Dumpster

The Safdie Brothers’ “Uncut Gems” is a crime thriller that takes us into a seedy underworld most people probably do not know to exist. It is a tangled web encompassing the dealing precious gems, seedy pawn shops, high-end clientele, mistresses, exorbitant sports bets, and the constant pursuit by the muscle hired to collect on your losses (through force when needed). The film is an exercise in anxiety entertainment – a winner that is both relentlessly demanding and intoxicatingly intense.

Adam Sandler’s Howard Ratner is a New York City jeweler who is the pawn at the center of a dangerous, self-perpetuating game. Although he seems to have the ability to make a legitimate living as a jeweler he is constantly performing a high-risk tight rope act without a new. He is an addict constantly chasing the next high. Not drugs, but rather the adrenaline that comes with the danger of living on the edge. He borrows from Paul to pay Peter and vice versa, every time raising the stakes higher and simultaneously digging the hole a little bit deeper.

One day Howard’s ticket to success arrives inside a fish box, in the form of an uncut opal that he values in the seven-figure range. After seventeen months of trying to acquire it, this one-piece can shift his future down the right path. It is a life-changer. So, when NBA star Kevin Garnett sees the rare gem and begs to borrow it to provide him luck in the NBA finals, of course, Howard says no. Scratch that – of course, he lends it to Garnett in exchange for some collateral, Garnett’s NBA championship ring. Once the ring is in his possession, Howard does what any responsible person would do, he pawns it off in exchange for cash needed to pay off a bookie.

As you could probably guess, that money doesn’t go to the bookie. Seeing a pattern here? It is one facepalm moment to the next. Watching Howard’s perpetual missteps can be painful, which is partially the purpose of the film. At the same time, his high stakes gambles are a vicarious thrill ride, where you ride shotgun as you hold your breath that Howard gets his windfall.

At his core, Howard is just another junkie looking for that one fix that will never come – it is an endless pursuit. The only reason we are so invested is that Sandler nails the performance. For the first half, it may come across as fairly one-note, a fast-talking con-man whose word cannot be trusted no matter who he is talking to – his wife, one of his bookies, his kids or his clients.

The one person he tends to be most sincere with is his mistress, Julia (scene-stealing newcomer Julia Fox) who sees behind the everything-is-alright gilding he sells so insistently. It is in these moments that Sandler does his best work, delivering the best performance of his career. Like his character, he grabs hold of audiences and seduces us into rooting for him, even if it is against our better judgment. Actually, he comes across like the type of friend you would probably duck into a corner to avoid. Yet, Sandler’s work allows us to fall for the con.

If you are an anxious person, this may not be the film for you. The Safdie Brothers purposely created is a hyper-stressful, tortuous ball of suspense. Some people will surely eat it up. For others, it will be a relentless rollercoaster ride that has them hoping it will end after the next turn only t

After a long hiatus, and many months of a sad, and lonely Nick, Tom is back so we have more opinions for your earholes. This week the guys review Todd Phillips’ Joker (AKA the most profitable comic book movie in history) and the new Will Smith movie you already probably forgot, Gemini Man.

In this weeks Film Dumpster Podcast Tom and Nick are joined by long time Film Dumpster cohort, Kevin, as they reunite and give us their take on the third installment of the John Wick series, staring the ever charitable Keanu Reeves. They also ramble on about utter  nonsense and all three probably tune out before you do.

In this week’s Film Dumpster Podcast, Nick and Tom take a look at the indie drama, Bolden, about Jazz legend (and often cited as it’s creator) Buddy Bolden.  They also stir up a bit of Hollywood news and of course talk their usual shit!

In this weeks Film Dumpster Podcast, Nick and Tom review visionary Director Terry Gilliam’s long awaited The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.  The guys get into a little Hollywood news, talk a little about the WGA vs Agencies shake up and some recent notable losses in the film world.

In this weeks episode Tom and Nick tackle the Superhero to end all Superhero movies Avengers: Endgame.  They speculate on the future of the MCU. Tom talks about a movie he cant talk about, but talks about any way with out really talking about it.

In this weeks Film Dumpster Podcast Mike, Tom and Nick take a look at the new Netflix feature, Triple Frontier starring Ben Affleck and Oscar Issac. And we say goodbye to an era as Mike leaves us for the fresher air of the Pacific Northwest, other shit is also talked.

In this episode of the Film Dumpster Podcast Tom, Nick and Mike review the highly anticipated Captain Marvel [SPOILER ALERT] and take a look forward to the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. They speculate on the next phase in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In this weeks Film Dumpster Podcast Nick and Tom are without their trusty bottom bitch, Mike as they review the MANGA adaption from the minds of James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez’s  Alita: Battle Angel.  They also take a look at the 2019 Academy Award nominee’s and make what are inevitably terrible predictions.

In this weeks Film Dumpster Podcast, Tom, Nick and Mike review the follow up to Unbreakable and Split, M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass. They also take a look at the French/German Kafkaesque Film Noir thriller Transit.