A24 teaming with Adam Sandler is something no one thought they’d see, especially at this point in the comedian’s career, as he mostly makes Netflix original movies now. But here we are, with the first official trailer forUncut Gems. And the thriller is already winning Sandler plenty of Oscars buzz. This is the Safdie brothers follow-up to their critically acclaimed hitGood Time, and from the look of this sneak peek, they could very well be sweeping awards season early next year.
The first trailer for the Safdie brothers’Uncut Gemsarrived this morning starring Adam Sandler in what some people are describing as the role of his career. In theaters this December, the movie also features Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, and Eric Bogosian.
From acclaimed filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie comes an electrifying crime thriller about Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score. When he makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime, Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
Josh Safdie & Benny Safdiedirected the movie from a screenplay they wrote alongside Ronald Bronstein. The pair got their start as collaborative filmmakers more than a decade ago when they set out to make a short film to promote Kate Spade Handbags. That ultimately turned into the feature-length movieThe Pleasure of Being Robbed, which premiered at SXSW in 2008.
The pair directed their follow-up in 2009 withDaddy Longlegs, which premiered at Director’s Fortnight at Cannes. Then came the documentaryLenny Cooke, which followed a once phenom high school basketball talent ranked above Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, from adolescence to manhood. In 2014, they directedHeaven Knows What. But it wasn’t until 2017’s crime thrillerGood Time, starring Robert Pattinson, that the duo really got noticed and started to win much acclaim. And it wasGood Timethat was partly responsible for winning Pattinson his role as Bruce Wayne in Warner Bros. and DC Films' upcoming superhero movieThe Batman.
Adam Sandler is mostly known for creating and starring in goofy cult comedies, and currently is working under a deal with Netflix. His latest for the streaming serviceMurder Mysterywas a huge hit, starring alongside Jennifer Aniston as a husband and wife abroad, caught in the web of, you guessed it, an international murder mystery.
Uncut Gemsisn’t the first time Adam Sandler has wonOscarspraise. In 2002, he took the lead in Paul Thomas Anderson’sPunch Drunk Love. It earned him a nomination for Best Performance in a Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes, but the Academy Awards weren’t ready to recognize him yet. In 2007, he starred in the dramaReign Over Meopposite Don Cheadle, where he was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor, yet the Oscar once again eluded him. His biggest stretch for an award came withThe Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), which got him a standing ovation at Cannes, much to everyone’s disbelief. Now,Uncut Gemslooks like it will seriously but the comedic actorin contention for the ultimate golden statue.
A24dropped the first trailer forUncut Gemsalongside the first poster, which you may check out below. The movie is officially releasing in December, probably limited before a wider run. At this time no specific date is set for the month, but it will probably debut before Christmas.
