The opportunity to live vicariously through characters is a key reason why people read stories. A Jane Austen book can take you back to Victorian-era England, a Star Wars film can immerse you in a huge space opera, and a forensics drama like CSI can put you at the center of a murder investigation. Narrative entertainment is loved by people all around the world because of the excitement it provides via these experiences. This might also shed light on Uncut Gems' surprising commercial success.
At first, it may not seem obvious what kind of simulated encounter Uncut Gems is providing. The content of other films is much easier to decipher. Indiana Jones provides exciting opportunities for treasure-seeking. The Fast and the Furious franchise features high-octane automobile chases and daring robberies. Superheroes are provided by Marvel films. But what do you get when you play Uncut Gems? Credit to a loanshark? That doesn't seem that fascinating, does it? The thrill of such a Safdie Brothers movie comes from Howard Ratner's gambling addiction.
Every moment of the day requires a choice, from the moment we first open our eyes until we close them again at night. The vast majority of us choose wisely. The way we clean up after ourselves, go to the office, and conduct ourselves, in general, is consistent with the norms of society. However, we are all aware of those who choose not to behave appropriately. For good or worse, they tend to live more carefree, hedonistic lifestyles. A person with a gambling addiction is one example.
Because of this, Howard Ratner is a strangely endearing protagonist. The responsible side of Howard can't be denied. His typical day resembles that of any other person. He's got a nice home in the suburbs. He operates a small company. His family consists of a wife and children; nevertheless, the marriage isn't great, and neither is his bond with his children. He is obligated to attend school performances he would rather skip. As a result, he dreads spending time with his relatives. That kind of thing is widely known.
Howard's life, however, is not typical in any way. His little diamond boutique serves A-listers and high-rollers. He has been having an affair with a stunning young woman, approximately 20 years his junior. He lives in New York City in a spacious one-bedroom apartment designed specifically for single males. He's partaking in both the respectable and reckless ways of life. That is to say, he stands for the collective consciousness, or what people understand and what they often wish they knew. He represents their everyday lives and their wildest imaginations.
People often speculate on the outcomes of various gambling scenarios. Lotteries wouldn't be as common as they are if gambling didn't have such a strong psychological pull. If not for its many attractions, Las Vegas would not be nearly as well-known as it is. Without people like you, sports betting wouldn't be as common as it is. There's excitement in the prospect of winning a large sum of money that may completely change your life. What if I spent $10 on lottery tickets and won $300 million? If you find yourself wondering, "What if I hit the slot machine jackpot?" Do you think I'd be crazy if I put $500 on the Browns?
However, most of us refrain from making such bets because we understand they are irresponsible. The fantasy alone is enough for us. But thanks to Howard Ratner, we can now satisfy that crazy need with trusted apps that let us bet on sports in New York.
In Uncut Gems, the main conflict stems from the fact that Howard owes his loanshark brother-in-law $100,000. Based on his life, Howard appears to be wealthy or financially successful. He must have the means to do so. Only, he's a gambler. He gives in to temptation. He can't pay off his debt because of his reckless nature.
Howard takes Kevin Garnett's championship ring and spends tens of thousands of dollars to make a parlay wager on Garnett's success that day in the NBA playoffs, marking the first time gambling is featured in Uncut Gems. The parlay requires improbable outcomes, such as Garnett taking the opening tip and scoring a certain number of points, while the Celtics go on to win the game. Howard's fixation on the game consumes a whole scene. As events go in Howard's favor, we, the audience, experience a similar rush of excitement. Garnett's appearance is always welcome. What may have been Howard's undoing turns out to be his salvation. Super exciting!
The feeling of success is something that really happens to people. The success they experience, whether it is $10, $5,000, or $50,000, encourages them to try again. They want the rush of victory once again, for that matter. At this climactic moment, the audience realizes Howard has risked not just the last of his money, but his life itself. This is a hundred times more thrilling than the original game.
No comments:
Post a Comment