MOVIE TIP

Uncut Gems

This is one intense movie. As the closing credits rolled, a friend I saw it with leaned over and said, “I think I need a Xanax.” Despite — or partly because of — the frenetic energy, “Uncut Gems” is quite a good motion picture. Adam Sandler upends viewers’ expectations with his assured performance as a NYC jeweler with a gambling problem. He’s an awful human being, lying to everyone, cheating on his wife, ignoring his kids. The supporting cast, from Eric Bogosian to Celtics great Kevin Garnett playing himself, is rock solid. The female characters, though, are written as stereotypes; Idina Menzel does what she can to make the wife more multifaceted. Oh, and did I mention some pivotal scenes were filmed at Mohegan Sun?