TIFF 2019: THE TRUTH & UNCUT GEMS

Back at it for another day at TIFF 2019, I started the day bright and early with The Truth from Hirokazu Koreeda. From there, I had to run to catch the new film from directors Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems. It was quite a shakeup, both tonally and in terms of subject, but it was a double feature I looked forward to as soon as the schedule came out.

The Truth (Hirokazu Koreeda )

Hirokazu Koreeda may be the best director in the world when it comes to an adept look at family dynamics. His 2018 film, Shoplifters, won the Palme D’or at Cannes and was a huge hit. Shortly after, he announced his next film would be his first film outside of Japan and in another language.

Taking place largely in French (there’s some English mixed in) and featuring talent like Juliette Binoche, Catherine Deneuve and Ethan Hawke, The Truth is Koreeda’s greatest departure from his previous work, while simultaneously fitting right in with his filmography.

When screenwriter Lumir (Binoche) comes back with her husband and daughter to her home in Paris to visit her legendary actress mother Fabienne (Deneuve), the reunion isn’t quite all hugs and kisses. Fabienne is about to publish her memoir, which Lumir finds to be less than honest. Fabienne looks back at herself as a far more involved and loving mother than Lumir remembers.

On top of that, Fabienne – who is past the prime in her career and has a reputation of being difficult – has a supporting role in a new movie. Fabienne is vain and impossible to please – she seemingly thinks she’s above being a mother because of her career. It feels like a battle of cats (mom, being cold and distant) vs. dogs (Lumir needing the warmth and affection).

Over the course of the film, the two come to realize that they each view their relationship from their unique perspectives. They argue over their memories (which can’t be trusted), \ over tiny details like the size of a studio lot. When the two manage to open up to each other, they see that neither of their perspectives are actually the titular truth.

Obviously great talent like Binoche and Deneuve shine brightly. The roles aren’t flashy or wild, but they’re played perfectly true to life. While she doesn’t play a major role, it would be a disservice not to mention Clémentine Grenier who plays Charlotte, the daughter of Lumir and Hank (Hawke). For a young actress in a bilingual role, she knocks it out of the park with a performance far beyond her experience.

With The Truth, Koreeda has crafted another subtle, yet poignant look at the family structure. It may never reach the highs of Shoplifters, but it’s certainly worthy of a place in his catalog. It’s surprisingly (and impressively) French – muted tones and a bit grainy. You could put The Truth next to a Claire Denis film and it would aesthetically fit in. It’s as quietly brilliant as you’ve come to expect from the Japanese director with understated, yet pointed performances and intimate, nuanced camerawork.

Uncut Gems (Josh and Benny Safdie)

If you’ve ever seen a film from Josh and Benny Safdie, you roughly know what you’re getting into. That’s not a bad thing. They’ve carved out a niche that’s built them quite the following – myself included. And after seeing what they did with Robert Pattinson in Good Time, I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store for Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems.

The Safdie Brothers return to New York city for the story of Howard Ratner (Sandler), an eccentric jeweler in the Diamond District. He’s the kind of guy who always has a scheme going on. He’s always looking for a score. He also happens to bit a bit of trouble with gambling debt and starting to go through a divorce. So when he gets the titular uncut gem, –an opal –it leads to a series of big bets that risk everything. Howard has to walk a fine line and balance different people trying to get him to settle up, Kevin Garnett and his personal life.

Like all Safdie films, Uncut Gems is a relentless panic attack. It pushes it’s characters past their limits and examines if they’ll sink or swim. I love it, but it’s not for everyone. The score melts your ears while frenetic action doesn’t let up. The performances make you believe. Garnett plays himself and the gem from Howard for good luck in the NBA Eastern Conference Championship. It’s a harder role than you’d expect and he feels natural to the story, not like a celebrity cameo.

Sandler comes off as a grimy, but well intentioned schemer. New York City is full of them, and he’d fit right in. Believe the Oscar hype for Sandler. Even though he likely won’t get a nomination, he’s worthy of one. He balances a complicated character that, like Pattinson in Good Time, we never know if we want them to win or lose. Amidst the frantic pace, there are plenty of jokes and moments of levity. Without giving away too much, there’s a scene where he’s sexting from inside a closet that is laugh out loud funny.

While it’s not as tight and tidy as Good Time or Heaven Knows What, adding humor is a big step forward for the Safdie Brothers with Uncut Gems. It’s certainly funnier – largely thanks to Sandler – than anything they’ve done before. It also needs to be to help viewers through the 134 minute runtime. There’s only so long a viewer can take the frenetic pace of a Safdie Brothers film.

It’s all so intentionally stressful, but it’s hard to say that having so many characters yelling over each other so frequently always works. There are plenty of times I wanted subtitles or sound mixing to make it clearer what each character was saying. I recognize what the directors were going for, they just need to find that balance.

Uncut Gems is everything you’d expect and hope for from the Safdie Brothers. It will get your heart rate going and your adrenaline pumping. Skip your morning coffee and keep a Xanax in your pocket. If you’ve seen Sandler in Punch Drunk Love or Meyerowitz Stories, you know he’s a talented actor. And in Uncut Gems, he’s at the very top of his game.