NPR 4 THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t

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FRESH AIR: I’m Terry Gross. My guest Adam Sandler is famous for his comedy films and his work on “Saturday Night Live” in the ’90s. But he’s also given some terrific performances and dramas. He stars in the new manic thriller, “Uncut Gems,” which was written and directed by the Safdie brothers – Josh and Benny Safdie – who are also with us.

Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a jeweler in Manhattan’s Diamond District who always has a deal or a con going on and never stops talking. And he’s a gambler. He’s made a lot of money and lost a lot of money and is deep in debt to a loan shark whose men are after him. He’s trying to talk and gamble his way out of the predicament he’s in. The Safdies’ father worked in the Diamond District when they were kids, and they heard a lot of stories.

“Uncut Gems” won the Best Director Award from the New York Film Critics Circle. The National Board of Review gave Sandler the Best Actor Award and the Safdie brothers the Best Screenplay Award. The film has five nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature, Director, Screenplay and Male Lead. MORE

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