by rogerco on Sat 27th Feb 2021 Streamed proj @ home

Claustrophobic focus but races along

Summary

Pretty non-stop rollercoaster following Howard Ratner (Adam Sandlaer) as he acquires and attempts to sell the opal. Fast paced New York life.

Full review

From the opening in Ethiopia I thought it was going to have a much broader scope taking in the trade in uncut gems from the miners to the bling - sadly that would be a very different and better film. This should really have been titled Uncut Gem since there is only one.

Once we focus in on Ratner and his life and dealings it is entertaining enough, racing along at a frenetic pace as he struggles to keep his life together - divvorce, lover, debts, extended (jewish) family, gambling, black culture, small time crooks and more serious ones.

The end was slightly surprising (didn't see that coming - not a Hollywood ending) and leaves a delicious question over what happened next to Julia (the girlfriend/colleague - Julia Fox)