Uncut Gems 4K UHD (2019)

[Georgeleon]

Originally Posted by Fenevar

I'm missing the political commentary... read the review like three times, still not seeing what you're talking about.

In his other reviews, I've noticed that he usually doesn't like the films added in the collection that are made by newer filmmakers or when they have some sort of social commentary. ex. Parasite, Ghost Dog, Uncut Gems

[okayflint]

calling sandlers performance unconvincing feels like categorically wrong

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Georgeleon

In his other reviews, I've noticed that he usually doesn't like the films added in the collection that are made by newer filmmakers or when they have some sort of social commentary. ex. Parasite, Ghost Dog, Uncut Gems

Could you define that more acutely? He's given loads of films with a social commentary highly positive reviews. I will agree however that he's a bit tougher to please with newer films.

I do appreciate his broad approval when it's a wheelhouse I share with him (i.e erotic thrillers).

[Kakihara]

I've said this in the Uncut Gems movie thread but it bears repeating here: I found Sandler's performance HIGHLY overrated and was glad he wasn't Oscar nominated for it, especially after he kept whining about being snubbed afterwards. However, he definitely was NOT "unconvincing" in the role. He was effective, credible and it was the performance of his career. I just didn't think it was a great performance like many made it out to be and liked the movie as a whole better than the performance. I certainly would give it 4 stars easily.

[meremortal]

Enjoyed Sandler's career pretty much since his SNL days and back when he was releasing comedy albums. Still remember being blown away when seeing him taking a dramatic turn in Punch Drunk Love and kind of got a similar feeling here. But in Uncut Gems I'd say it's probably the best example of a movie where there are only slight glimpses of the Sandler persona. It's kind of a tough situation at times to really distance the actor from the character with a lot of the familiar stars you've seen for years. Robin Williams was kind of the same way for me in One Hour Photo where he completely disappeared into his character.

[Georgeleon]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Could you define that more acutely? He's given loads of films with a social commentary highly positive reviews. I will agree however that he's a bit tougher to please with newer films.

I do appreciate his broad approval when it's a wheelhouse I share with him (i.e erotic thrillers).

I was more speculating because of what others on this forum have stated and reading his reviews for those three films. I was just trying to possibly give reason as to maybe why he didn't like those. I haven't read many reviews of his though.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Georgeleon

I was more speculating because of what others on this forum have stated and reading his reviews for those three films. I was just trying to possibly give reason as to maybe why he didn't like those. I haven't read many reviews of his though.

There could be some subsect of social commentary or tone therein he doesn't respond to, who knows. Maybe these young uns are too harsh. Watching Uncut Gems was thrilling, but pretty damn abrasive. Parasite was not suited for light entertainment either.

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by okayflint

calling sandlers performance unconvincing feels like categorically wrong

Even Daniel Day Lewis was a fan.

[bergman864]

Take a look at Svet's review of Beasts of No Nation. It makes you question his professionalism.

[Member-38928]

To me this movie felt like a pretty simple movie about a gambling addict, but I am an ex-gambler/gambling addict who by the grace of God was able to quit gambling entirely but I will always be an addict and I can very easily spot someone with a similar condition. I bought and watched Uncut Gems once then sold it, Punch Drunk Love will likely never be trumped as my favorite Sandler film. And Criterion goes an releases a 4K set of Uncut Gems.

[okayflint]

Originally Posted by bergman864

Take a look at Svet's review of Beasts of No Nation. It makes you question his professionalism.

I think you meant to say his johnny mad dog review

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

I've said this in the Uncut Gems movie thread but it bears repeating here: I found Sandler's performance HIGHLY overrated and was glad he wasn't Oscar nominated for it, especially after he kept whining about being snubbed afterwards. However, he definitely was NOT "unconvincing" in the role. He was effective, credible and it was the performance of his career. I just didn't think it was a great performance like many made it out to be and liked the movie as a whole better than the performance. I certainly would give it 4 stars easily.

So his performance is great but it wasn't at the same time?

That you MovieBob?

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

So his performance is great but it wasn't at the same time?

That you MovieBob?

It's my opinion. I respect yours. Don't disrespect mine. I didn't say it was a great performance. I thought it was a good one, especially for a guy who was Billy Madison. And it's ironic that you're questioning my opinion which is basically criticizing Svet's opinion of it.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

It's my opinion. I respect yours. Don't disrespect mine. I didn't say it was a great performance. I thought it was a good one.

I know it's your opinion, I didn't say it wasn't. Me disagreeing and joking with you is not disrespecting it. I think what you said was funny and contradicts itself, but that's par for the course with movie criticism these days. You're almost as funny as Svet. Almost!

If you don't want criticism for what you post online then do not post. Thanks!

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by BigDmo531

I hadn't actually read the full opening of his review either (because I'm not really interested in the reviewers opinion of the film itself, just how the release looks and sounds). It's like he wasn't even paying attention. He calls Julia Fox a gold digger but, while it may seem that way early on, I think it's pretty apparent by the end that she actually cares about him. He says how unrealistic it is that Sandler is given such a long leash to pay back his debts but it's made explicitly clear that Arno is his ****ing brother-in-law. Arno's muscle I'm pretty sure is also mentioned to be guys he has recently hired as a last resort because he's had such a hard time getting Sandler to pay him back. He mentions how ridiculous Sandler's behavior is when he's A ****ING ADDICT! That's pretty accurate addict behavior. I'm pretty sure the Safdies talk about growing up around the Diamond District and meeting tons of people just like Howard in their Adventures in Moviegoing episode, so it's not like they're writing this assuming this is what it's like without any actual encounters with the scene and the people in it. Svet is a

My post referring to Svet's review was more about how he pulled no punches and less about agreement with his opinion, but that said, I'm pretty sure Svet watched the film! The big takeaway for me, and the purpose of my post, is that Svet has an opinion about the film and the disc, and agree or disagree, he makes his case, no more, no less.

As far as Uncut Gems and my opinion, well, to be honest I screened it with a full house at the local Alamo, and to be honest, it was a bit of a disappointment after the high expectations set by Good Times. It's not a bad film, definitely has it moments along with a few laughs, but overall it didn't even rank in my Top 20 for 2019.

I would add that he is on to something with Sandler's over the top performance, which for me there was never a moment that he wasn't Adam Sandler and everything, good and bad, that comes with it, as opposed to why Pattinson was so good in Good Times, the celebrity was completely subsumed by the performance. If you're a Sandler fan and your tastes run profane, great. If you're not fan of either, not so much. In many ways, Sandler is the best thing about the film, but part of me wonders what the film would have been without him.

Like the Safdie Brothers, I'm from New York, and yes, the film does provide more than a few spot on characterizations. However, the film also has a somewhat fantastical veneer to proceedings that while entertaining, is ultimately more Hollywood than 47th Street.

The thing is everyone is entitled to an opinion, and so is Svet, and to his credit, he doesn't sugarcoat his criticism.

[BigDmo531]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

My post referring to Svet's review was more about how he pulled no punches and less about agreement with his opinion, but that said, I'm pretty sure Svet watched the film! The big takeaway for me, and the purpose of my post, is that Svet has an opinion about the film and the disc, and agree or disagree, he makes his case, no more, no less.

As far as Uncut Gems and my opinion, well, to be honest I screened it with a full house at the local Alamo, and to be honest, it was a bit of a disappointment after the high expectations set by Good Times. It's not a bad film, definitely has it moments along with a few laughs, but overall it didn't even rank in my Top 20 for 2019.

I would add that he is on to something with Sandler's over the top performance, which for me there was never a moment that he wasn't Adam Sandler and everything, good and bad, that comes with it, as opposed to why Pattinson was so good in Good Times, the celebrity was completely subsumed by the performance. If you're a Sandler fan and your tastes run profane, great. If you're not fan of either, not so much. In many ways, Sandler is the best thing about the film, but part of me wonders what the film would have been without him.

Like the Safdie Brothers, I'm from New York, and yes, the film does provide more than a few spot on characterizations. However, the film also has a somewhat fantastical veneer to proceedings that while entertaining, is ultimately more Hollywood than 47th Street.

The thing is everyone is entitled to an opinion, and so is Svet, and to his credit, he doesn't sugarcoat his criticism.

I thought your original comment was sarcasm honestly but regardless I'm not saying that nobody can have a different opinion on a film than me or anything like that. Svet may not sugarcoat his criticism but when he makes such a large part of his review of the disc a criticism of the movie itself then he should at least sound like he paid attention to the movie. I've seen it only once two years ago and I still had no problem remembering that a bunch of the stuff he "criticizes" is clearly addressed in the film. It's just not a good look. Like I said I'd rather he just focused more on reviewing the picture and audio quality, supplements and packaging then try and review the movie itself. Again, I'm willing to bet most people on this site are not looking at the reviews to know what Svet (or any reviewer) thinks of the quality of the movie. We know what we do and don't want to buy, just tell us the quality of the release

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by BigDmo531

...like I said I'd rather he just focused more on reviewing the picture and audio quality, supplements and packaging then try and review the movie itself. Again, I'm willing to bet most people on this site are not looking at the reviews to know what Svet (or any reviewer) thinks of the quality of the movie. We know what we do and don't want to buy, just tell us the quality of the release

While I'm not one of them, I hear you loud and clear that a significant percentage of readers are only interested in the technical and supplemental aspects of a release.

[pab1219]

Digital for myself.

[Bostonyte]

IMHO Sandler's best performance was in Reign Over Me

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by bergman864

Take a look at Svet's review of Beasts of No Nation. It makes you question his professionalism.

After re-reading his review, what aspect suggests that it's an unprofessional take?

While I haven't seen Johnny Mad Dog, I have screened a number of excellent Frontline documentaries on the subject of recent civil war conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and those screenings along with related news reports definitely influenced my screening of Beasts of No Nation.