This movie talks about gambling at its finest. It is normal for Compulsive Gamblers to put their money as collateral.

But when you meet gambler like Howard Ratner (played by Adam Sadler), your business, your family, your mistress, your dignity, and your life is your collateral. In simple words, he bets with his life, and yours.

Here with Uncut Gems, we take a very fast paced walk through the diamond district in Manhattan where we enter the world of Howard Ratner, which is filled with anxiety, broken promises, a one of a kind smile, and the selfish fueled debts to repay.

Howard’s goal is simple, he bought an uncut Opal rock and wants to double his profit.

With his connections, he gets Kevin Garnett (a real life professional basketballer) into his store where they make a dangerous trade which leads to this gripping story.


The camera is constantly moving and never stops in this film, which gives us the intense feeling of anxiety as we watch Howard make countless bets with other people’s collateral to score the big win in the end.

did he?

Please also watch out for the woman that plays Julia, his mistress, she is gorgeous and a good actor in what I believe is a break out role.

This film, with excellent production values, in no way plays like an ‘indie’. It was superbly written, directed, cast, scored and acted.

Rating? 8/10

Think of a first date with someone you met online. Think of all the things that could possibly go right. Or wrong?

Queen & Slim is merely a movie about the most traumatic, life-changing first date imaginable. It looks like a black lives matter thingy but if we look closely and keep it at bay, it could be any of us in the wrong side of Law enforcement.

Queen & Slim reflects to the police harassment issues we currently face in Nigeria with the SARS police brutality incidents. It shows us what to do, what not to do. The consequence of what was done and the overall chain of events and repercussions of how significant a single event can be.

It is excellent story telling with beautiful dialogue and some really cool cinematography. Can be a bit slow atimes but the pace shows the significance of the struggles and frustration being in that situation would feel.

Queen & Slim always affords time and space to intimate, quiet moments that orient themselves around these issues of race, perception, legacy and the fledgling love between its two central characters. 

My rating? 7/10