History Film / UncutGems

* TheReveal: Arno is introduced as Howard's primary loan shark, and shown to be his biggest threat. Then we see him at the family Passover dinner, revealing him to be Howard's brother-in-law.

* RedHerring: The film starts with Howard's colonoscopy, and his doctor notes polyps that will need a biopsy. Howard awaits results of the tests, but he's later revealed to have no issues and the subject is never brought up again.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Howard's gamble pays off big, but Phil still shoots Howard in the face, and the movie ends with him bleeding out on the floor of his shop. Phil also killed his own boss Arno after the latter was horrified by Howard's death. The only possible silver lining is that his family is safe (albeit now without a father), and Julia made off with millions (which isn't a particularly great thing in and of itself, seeing as she's [[TheDitz a stupid]], [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish, materialistic moron]]). That being said, Howard ''did'' die at probably the happiest moment of his life, which might be all that matters to him by that point]].

* PointyHairedBoss: Howard is an excellent gambler, but a horrible boss. He completely ignores an upset employee to fawn over his new opal. He alienates his partner, Demany, and nearly drives away Julia, his most loyal worker. His criminal troubles constantly put the shop itself in danger.

* TwentyMinutesIntoThePast: The film was released in 2019, but is set in 2012.

* AdamWesting: Music/TheWeeknd insisted on being portrayed as an obnoxious diva, which he says was accurate to his behavior at the time the movie is set.

* PunkInTheTrunk: Arno and his henchmen beat up Howard, take his clothes, and force him into the trunk of his own car. Howard is only in the trunk for a few minutes–he calls his wife to come out and unlock it.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: [[spoiler:Howard wins the big bet on the Celtics in the climax of the movie. He then lets in Phil (who was threatening Howard after being locked in his door for several hours) who then proceeds to shoot and kill Howard. A violent hotheaded mobster who has been constantly butting heads with Howard during the whole movie, was not going to be okay with being locked in the room for over three hours no matter how much money Howard just made. No amount of money is worth the shit Howard pulls on them.]]
* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: [[spoiler: Right after winning the biggest bet of his life, Howard gets unceremoniously popped by Phil, who has long since crossed his RageBreakingPoint.]]
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Howard is killed at the end of the movie, which he could have easily avoided by just paying the mobsters the money he owed them from the get-go. He had multiple chances to do so but constantly made more gambling bets instead, most damningly during the climax where he had the money ready to give to them but immediately bets on the Celtics game instead while locking the mobsters in his building. ]]

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Howard tricks Julia into having phone sex through texts and pictures while he's spying on her from the closet.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Almost everyone in the film is unpleasant in some form or another, and most of them are more than willing to point out Howard's personal failings and how they are ruining his life. Whether it be his HairTriggerTemper, infidelity, his gambling addiction and refusal to pay his debts, or how his apathy to how all of these are ruining his personal and professional relationships.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Howard's gamble paid off big, but Phil still shoots Howard in the face, and the movie ends with him bleeding out on the floor of his shop. Phil also killed his own boss Arno after the latter was horrified by Howard's death. The only possible silver lining is that his family is safe (albeit now without a father), and Julia made off with millions (which isn't a particularly great thing in and of itself, seeing as she's [[TheDitz a stupid]], [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish, materialistic moron]]). That being said, Howard ''did'' die at probably the happiest moment of his life, which might be all that matters to him by that point]].

** [[spoiler: The ecstatic mood from Howard winning his last bet is rudely interrupted when Phil abruptly shoots him in the face. Played with, as the heavenly soundtrack continues on uninterrupted and the film cuts to other scenes of Julia and Howard's family celebrating the win, as if to show how meaningless Howard's life ultimately turned out to be.]]

* AllJewsAreAshkenazi: Howard notes that, in spite of being Jewish, he had no idea about the existence of Ethiopian Jews, many of whom are trapped in Africa mining gems. In reality, any observant Jew would be aware of Ethiopian Jews, though not necessarily the current status of those still in Africa. Zig-zagged in that Howard is subtly implied to be a Bukharian Jew himself.

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Arno is clearly shown to be appalled at his death, with himself getting shot by Phil after confronting him on it.]]

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Both Howard and Arno’s demises qualify. Howard gets murdered by Phil after winning the biggest bet in his life. While he was a self-serving gambler, Arno is clearly shown to be appalled at his death, with himself getting shot by Phil after confronting him on it.]]

* MatzoFever: Arno is an Armenian who has married into a Jewish family. His Jewish in-laws make loaded comments about him being a gentile behind his back.

* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler:Howard's ultimate fate. Arno's fate as well.]]

* CuttingTheKnot: [[spoiler: By the end of the film, Phil has had it with Howard's increasingly audacious behavior and decides to just shoot him and take everything in his store]].

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome [[spoiler:Howard wins the big bet on the Celtics in the climax of the movie. He then lets in Phil (who was threatening Howard after being locked in his door for several hours) who then proceeds to shoot and kill Howard. A violent hotheaded mobster who has been constantly butting heads with Howard during the whole movie, was not going to be okay with being locked in the room for over three hours no matter how much money Howard just made. No amount of money is worth the shit Howard pulls on them.]]

Taking place in 2012, the film follows Howard Ratner (Sandler), a charismatic New York Diamond District jeweler and [[TheGamblingAddict gambling addict]] whose clients are some of the most powerful and wealthy people in the city. When a potential transaction of his goes awry and an old, persistent LoanShark of his starts swimming straight for him, Howard must make a series of precarious high-stake acts as everything from his family, his creditors, and his clients start to catch up to him in more ways than one.

** [[spoiler: The ecstatic mood from Howard winning his last bet is rudely interrupted when Phil abruptly shoots him in the face. Played with, as the heavenly soundtrack continues on uninterrupted and the film cuts to other scenes of Julia and Howard's family celebrating the win, as if to show how meaningless Howard's life ultimately turned out to be]].

* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: [[spoiler: Right after winning the biggest bet of his life, Howard gets unceremoniously popped by Phil, who has long since crossed his RageBreakingPoint]].

** [[spoiler: The film practically begins on a mood whiplash, as the camera zooms into the ethereal interior of a beautiful black opal...and seamlessly transitions into what turns out to be an inside view of Howard's colon.]]

** [[spoiler: The ecstatic mood from Howard winning his last bet is rudely interrupted when Phil abruptly shoots him in the face. Played with, as the heavenly soundtrack continues on uninterrupted and the film cuts to other scenes of Julia and Howard's family celebrating the win, showing how meaningless Howard's life ultimately turned out to be]].
** [[spoiler: The film practically begins on a mood whiplash when the camera zooms into the ethereal interior of a beautiful black opal...and seamlessly transitions into what turns out to be an inside view of Howard's colon.]]

* AdamWesting: Music/TheWeeknd insisted on being portrayed as an obnoxious diva, which he says was accurate to his behavior at the time of the movie.

Taking place in 2012, the film follows Howard Ratner (Sandler), a charismatic New York Diamond District jeweler and [[TheGamblingAddict gambling addict]] whose clients are some of the most powerful and wealthiest people in the city. When a potential transaction of his goes awry and an old, persistent LoanShark of his starts swimming straight for him, Howard must make a series of precarious high-stake acts as everything from his family, his creditors, and his clients start to catch up to him in more ways than one.