So, you survived the experience of watching Softy Brothers' gambling thriller “Uncut Gems” without your heart exploding, right? It's true that very few films can match that film's high sense of mania and tension, but if you're looking for a classic Hollywood film that plays in a somewhat similar but lower tone, we have a recommendation..
Alexander McKendrick's “Sweet Smell of Success,” a 1957 noir drama, stars the great Burt Lancaster (“From Here to Eternity,” “Gunfight at the Well Corral”) as a powerful town gossip columnist. New York whose daily essays are so powerful. that can make or break careers. From the irreverent to the grand spectacle, the story explores the lengths the agent will go to please the writer (and the lives he can destroy) so he can finally achieve the success he desires.
Uncut stones and the sweet smell of success share the feeling of living on the edge.
If you know Adam Sandler from silly comedies like “Happy Gilmore” or “Crown Ups,” “Uncut Gems” shows a completely different side to him as an actor, and even the softest of us are impressed by his dedication to the role. His character, Howard Ratner, a jeweler and gambling addict, spends the film falling into deeper and deeper financial holes, and until the filmmakers slowly turn up the heat, it feels like Howard (and the audience) are trapped in a bathtub. of boiling water. . “Sweet Smell of Victory” won't give you the same heartburn as “Uncut Gems,” but a film made almost 70 years ago feels remarkably modern in its acidic exploration of fame and power. The overall aesthetic and vibe are markedly different, but they share some thematic crossovers.
Without spoiling too much, it's fair to say that Tony Curtis' character Sydney is just as full of sweaty frustration as Howard. Long-term loans, favors owed, intimidation, intimidation and intimidation hang like fog in the air of both films, as the shattered parts of important relationships are led by almost dehumanized protagonists in the pursuit of inflation. . The characters in these films live on the edge, unwittingly trapped in cycles that lead to destruction.. These films share a general sense of narcissism and make you shudder at the thought that there could be people so blatantly power-hungry that they would betray their loved ones for a chance. In a big way.
Another thing the movies have in common? Both were snubbed by the Academy at the Oscars, but it seems they both had the last laugh; “Uncut Gems” has only been out for a few years, but the film's frenetic pace has entered the cultural consciousness, while “Sweet Smell of Victory” has done the same with its riveting dialogue and stunning cinematography.
