The Top 40 Basketball Movies - #9. Uncut Gems

 The Top 40 Basketball Movies - #9. Uncut Gems

I don't think you can fault Adam Sandler for not doing something different here. It was a good movie, will I watch it again... not likely. I did like it enough to recommend it to my wife. Or at least I thought there was enough drama here to hold her interest. There is quite a bit to unpack but it revolves around 3 things, a gem that seemingly has special powers, a gambler with no control of his life, and a basketball player - Kevin Garnett, fascinated with the gem that makes him play better. Does all of this really add up to a basketball movie? It really could have been any sport inserted and it would have gone over just as well. It takes a bit from Casino and a bit from Jersey Shore. I don't even know if I was satisfied with it entirely, it might take me years to formulate all my thoughts about it. There is a whole prologue dedicated to finding the opal in Africa. His girlfriend Julia was one of the bright points of the movie. Directed by the Safdie brothers (obviously I'm not familiar with them)? Sandler's Howard owns a jewelry shop but his gambling addiction has taken a tole on his life and his Jewish family, his ex-wife's father is one of the bookies. Tilda Swinton, The Weeknd and Pom Klementieff have cameos. 560 F bombs, behind 569 in Wolf of Wall Street. Sandler (wearing false teeth) turned the role down twice before taking it. Overall, it's stressful, but good. Opinions are mixed, a high critic score with a down the middle audience score but the IMDB ranking is good enough to solidify it at 9, which is exactly where I would put it.

Movie	Rotten Tom	Rotten Tom Aud	IMDB	Internet Rank	My Rank
9. Uncut Gems	91	52	7.4	13	9
10. One on One	88	75	6.5	15	12
11. Above the Rim	52	82	6.6	18	10
12. Champions	59	95	6.7	12	17
13. BASEketball	41	74	6.5	28	2
14. Glory Road	55	81	7.2	14	18
15. Finding Forrester	74	79	7.3	10	22
16. Rebound: The Legend of Earl “The Goat”	50	94	7.6	6	27
17. Inside Moves	50	77	7.0	19	16
18. Hoop Dreams	98	92	8.3	2	35
19. Uncle Drew	61	48	5.7	32	6
20. Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story	50	99	6.9	11	28
21. The Winning Season	50	55	6.6	26	15
22. Fast Break	50	59	6.1	30	13
23. Believe in Me	60	74	7.0	16	29
24. High Flying Bird	91	50	6.2	20	26
25. "O"	64	58	6.1	22	25
26. Forget Paris	48	56	6.5	29	19
27. Sunset Park	13	83	5.9	31	21
28. Game Day	50	82	5.4	25	30
29. Blue Chips	37	51	6.2	33	23
30. Amateur	60	66	5.9	24	32
31. The Air Up There	21	35	5.5	38	20
32. Space Jam	43	63	6.5	27	31
33. Semi-Pro	22	38	5.8	36	24
34. Heaven Is a Playground	50	84	5.8	21	39
35. Hurricane Season	50	69	6.5	23	38
36. Teen Wolf	42	52	6.1	34	34
37. Boogie	42	57	5.2	35	36
38. Rebound	14	38	5.1	40	33
39. Slam Dunk Ernest	50	31	4.5	37	37
40. Eddie	17	36	5.2	39	40