Howard Ratner was once a successful New York gems dealer but now he’s a shady jeweler to rappers and sports stars. His gambling addiction has left his family and business in shambles? He is also thousands of dollars in debt. He’s always looking for the next money maker. He thinks he’s finally hit it big when he discovers a rare uncut rock of Ethiopian gems. He has found a very interested high-profile buyer. The closer Howard gets to finally winning big, the more he is forced to realize he can’t keep running from the consequences of his actions!!
Howard never stops moving and the movie doesn’t either? There is a nonexistent story line? This has three effects on the audience, exhausting, electrifying and wondering what is happening. Howard has an addiction and stress is what he continually feels. He is so used to the stress that he doesn’t realize he has it and consequently he has need for stress. He must be in a panic all the time? He’s also running from rooms, on sidewalks, charging across lobbies and making those close to him hate him?
Howard is a liar, philanderer, he abuses the trust of family, friends colleagues and customers, even his famous customers. The dialogue is profanity and lots of yelling. There are frequent physical assaults and a brief moment of intense gun violence and well as a bad wound. Frequent smoking and drinking.
There isn’t anything about this movie that I like!!?? I don’t like characters who act like Howard and how they treat other people. They need an intervention to help themselves and those around them. I’m not interested in a string of profanity and continual yelling as the dialogue. I knew right away that Howard was someone that no one could trust. I think this movie is either liked or hated but not feelings in between? 1/2* (I hated this movie)
Note: Imdb 7.4* out of 10* with 201,911 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 92% with 329 critics 52% with 12,112 ratings, empireonline.com 5* Nick De Semiyen, Metacritic 91 out of 100 with 56 critic reviews (54 positive 2 mixed 0 negative) (7.1 out of 10 with 539 user ratings 388 positive 67 mixed 84 negative), Roger Ebert 4* Sheila O’Malley, Common Sense Media, Tara McNamara, age 16+, 1* positive, 4* violence, 4* sex, 5* language, 3* consumerism, 4* drinking, drugs, smoking.
Special note: Basketball star Kevin Garnett and singer The Weekend play themselves. This film was inspired by the Safdie Brothers’ father’s time working as a salesman/runner for a man also named Howard in the Manhattan Diamond District. Adam Sandler wore false teeth and a fake dark mole on his right cheek for his role as Howard. Yussi is played by a real-life jeweler Maksud Agadjani. He was embroiled in a social media spat with rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine in 2018 over a $25,000 bracelet. Maksud said he lent the performer the bracelet but he was never paid? This incident was covered by several hip hop media news outlets?
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