Uncut Gems 2019

Sa simula pa lang, may kadiri na agad. Ramdam ko na yung tension agad from the opening moments. Wild yung transition from a zoom in sa diamond papunta sa cosmic clouds, tapos biglang sa human flesh, sinabayan ng synthetic score na parang Stranger Things. Parang sinasabi agad ng pelikula na papasok ka sa isip ng isang taong broken at addicted sa chaos. Adam Sandler is completely different here. Hindi siya yung usual Adam Sandler. He commits fully to the character. High intensity yung takbo ng mundo niya. Business deals running left to right. Sale, loan, gambling. High risk lahat. Three to four way deals sabay sabay. Ganito talaga pag highly leveraged ka. Isang maling galaw lang, domino effect na lahat. Yung short kidnap and shakedown scene sobrang intense. Walang breathing room. Nakakainis yung itsura at character ng asawa niya. Kuha talaga yung inis ko, same level ng irritation na binigay ni Skyler White sa Breaking Bad. Unsupportive, dagdag pressure sa already chaotic na buhay. Every time nasa office siya, puro chaos. Ang galing ng direction, editing, at camera work. May mga long takes na lalo pang nagpaparamdam kung gaano kagulo at ka claustrophobic yung mundo ni Howard. Nail biting yung third act. Ganda ng score, tuloy tuloy yung anxiety rush. Keith William Richards really helps create that chaos. Hindi ka pinapahinga. Naparamdam din sakin yung rush ng pagtaya. Ramdam mo yung dopamine addiction niya sa gambling through the music. Successful yung film sa pag immerse sakin sa isip ni Howard. Yung anticipation ng panalo, yung taas ng stakes, yung kaba habang naghihintay ng resulta, and eventually yung win. Bumalik ako sa college days ko, nanonood ng UST Tigers. Ganung klaseng tension. Sabi ko na e. Dapat hindi na niya pinakawalan, lalo na alam niyang may firearms si Phil. Pero ayun, that’s what happens when you keep playing in sketchy territory and pushing your luck. Stressful, exhausting, pero sobrang effective. Hindi siya comfortable panoorin, pero yun mismo yung strength ng pelikula.