Premium Member Tyler Purcell Posted December 18, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted December 18, 2019 Who says you can't shoot a dark, stylish, modern film on 35mm? Uncut Gems is Darius Khondji's latest fare and boy is it frenetic. The story is about a loser jeweler (Adam Sandler) in New York who owes literally everyone money, including some nasty family members who have hired goons to keep tabs on him. Every single time he has money to pay people, he blows it on something stupid and winds up getting himself into more debt and eventually more trouble. He purchases a gemstone from Africa that has the eye of a famous basketball player and that sets in motion the main arc of the story. One boneheaded move after another and he finally reaches a point of no return unless one final bet goes right. I've always liked Khondji's work and shooting 35mm was pretty cool on this show. He used a very frenetic style and camera that kept moving. Either with steadicam or handheld rigs, it was constantly moving. This helps greatly with the story, which never lets down, it's constantly moving forward. The cinematography mixed with Sandlers constant talking and fast cutting practice, makes the film almost dizzying to watch. Those moments of exposition, simply don't exist. You're constantly with the characters, right over their shoulder or in their face, with the occasional few seconds of rest, before the next storm. This is the filmmakers intent and much like Wolf of Wall street, the pacing never lets up, even until the last frame. I have to say the cinematography worked well with the story. It's not a style I like myself, I prefer medium shots over neck and top of head shots. Still, for what the filmmakers were going for it did work. I love Khondji's lighting style, there were moments of simplicity in the lighting that struck me as so realistic, it almost looked like it was shot digitally. I'm not to sure of the technical aspects of the film, but there were moments that did seem like he pushed a stop or so in some of the night cinematography. He shot with the Arricam's from Panavsion and C/E series anamorphics. It has this 1990's look to it, stretched faces a bit, but very few lens flares. For us "film" guys out there, it maybe worth watching this movie because there are some neat things he did that are worth examining. Lots of natural light in all conditions. Few sets that were lit very naturally. A few practical locations that looked great as well. I loved some of the steadicam shots that whizzed around to reveal characters, it was all very well done. My only gripe is that I really didn't care for Sandlers performance, it was over the top and lacking the level of stress that was necessary. Rumor has it Jonah Hill was going to play the role before Sandler became available. I think Hill would have done a better job, I just didn't like Sandler at all. I also didn't much care for the constant bombardment of information, I would have slowed the film down and given a moment for Sandler to cry or at least seem like he had some emotion over his life literally falling apart. It's just an unbelievable character that is further made more unbelievable by his stupidity and without really going into his past to explain how he became so stupid. Over-all, the only thing to take home was the cinematography and the watchable story. At least it was entertaining and visually interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Burke Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 . I am intrigued that Adam Sandler is doing a "straight" role rather than his usual schtick. I haven't seen it yet, but did see the trailer and not surprised at all that 35mm was used since the Safdie brothers made it. Good Time looks similar and was as wonderful film, shot in 2 perf. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Burke Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Further more. It is very heartening to see young filmmakers embracing film(celluloid) like in the afore mentioned Safdie Brothers films and The Lighthouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tyler Purcell Posted December 19, 2019 Author Premium Member Share Posted December 19, 2019 4 hours ago, Chris Burke said: Further more. It is very heartening to see young filmmakers embracing film(celluloid) like in the afore mentioned Safdie Brothers films and The Lighthouse. Tis and there are lots of them actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tyler Purcell Posted December 19, 2019 Author Premium Member Share Posted December 19, 2019 One side note, they're going to be screening Uncut Gems on 35mm at the new (old cinefamily) Fairfax cinema in Hollywood, which is very exciting. They're going to be one of those theaters that tries to play 35mm prints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Igor Trajkovski Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 I just watched it yesterday. Very interesting Hyper, non-resting , nerving.... As much the character was annoying, with his behavior at times, all in all it was a good film. Well done. I liked Sandler. Good job. I thought it was shot digital. Surprised to read here it was film. However, i think i saw in one occasion during a fast pan or a bus/vehicle passing by some rolling shutter skewing... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Perera Posted December 23, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted December 23, 2019 (edited) This one is on my to Watch list can't wait to see it.....A24 are really vouching for being shot on film..... Edited December 23, 2019 by Stephen Perera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles pappas Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 A whole lot of life left in those strips of celluloid. Btw, the anyone know offhand what that "light - ???" system from ??? Camera is that was thanked in the end credits? I spent a few minutes on google and didn't find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Delpech Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 How can you think it's shot digitally? ? Comes out on Netflix on the January 31 in many OS territories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Perera Posted January 10, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted January 10, 2020 A24 studio is the most interesting studio putting out some great films AND embracing our beloved celluloid..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravi Kiran Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) On 1/9/2020 at 2:25 PM, charles pappas said: A whole lot of life left in those strips of celluloid. Btw, the anyone know offhand what that "light - ???" system from ??? Camera is that was thanked in the end credits? I spent a few minutes on google and didn't find it. It's the Preston Light Ranger, a focus assist tool. Deadline interview with Darius Khondji NoFilm School interview with Khondji Edited January 11, 2020 by Ravi Kiran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Delpech Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Gorgeous work by Darius Khondji, film guys........ ^^ Available on Netflix except in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Perera Posted February 1, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted February 1, 2020 (edited) MASTERPIECE OF CINEMA wow what a film.....absolute film of the year no doubt about it......and it LOOKS like a proper film.....beautiful 35mm wow.....what an experience to see this.....for me Sandler edges out Joaquín Phoenix as best actor of the year.... Edited February 1, 2020 by Stephen Perera 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Martin Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Some shots were digital, for "practical reasons" according to the Kodak InCamera article. I don't know what they used, probably Alexa though. They shot 35mm grain separately to layer over the digital to try and match it. There's also a DIT in the end credits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin R Probyn Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 I think about 90% is shot digitally , the practical reasons being obvious .. ? .. runs for cover ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Mark Kenfield Posted February 10, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted February 10, 2020 Great film! Unlike others here I think Sandler did a great job, the intensity of the performance and the intensity of the film seemed to drive each other along very nicely. The cinematography too, felt perfectly matched to the narrative. To me, the film felt like watching a tense game of basketball. I could feel that same strange sense of self-aware, but intense engagement in each player's decisions - it was anxiety-inducing, but in the way that good films are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Delpech Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 One of the digitally shot scenes is the one outside the night club. Would make sense for them to use them for some low light or night scenes and specialty shots (like the ones zooming in on the opal maybe, until CG takes over). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Adam Frisch FSF Posted February 20, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted February 20, 2020 Darius has himself mentioned that he gets bored with beautiful shots, so he's always interesting to watch. He serves story these days. I get a sense that a lot of people want him to replicate the groundbreaking work he had when he did Seven and Delicatessen etc, but he wants to move forward. I respect that and can feel the same thing many times. "Beautiful cinematography" can be a trap. I thought Uncut Gems was good. Lighting is very real, even "ugly" at times, but it feels absolutely right for film. I love the long lens stuff. Nice to see after so much wide stuff the last decade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Perera Posted February 20, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted February 20, 2020 there was nothing ugly about this film at all....beautiful texture, contrast, colour....spot on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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