| Errors | Missing | Unverified | Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
In the film Uncut Gems (2019), the plot is set in motion through a series of interconnected events beginning in an Ethiopian mine and culminating in a high-stakes gamble in New York City’s Diamond District.
The following specific actions launch the narrative:
The film opens in the Welo mines of Ethiopia in 2010. During the chaos following a brutal leg injury to a fellow worker, two miners secretly break away from the crowd to unearth a massive, rare black opal embedded in a rock. This "uncut gem" serves as the primary "MacGuffin" of the film—the object that drives every character's motivation.
The story jumps forward two years to 2012. The opal has been purchased by Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic but debt-ridden jeweler. To avoid customs and keep the transaction off the books, Howard has the opal smuggled into the U.S. inside the carcass of a frozen fish. Its arrival at his showroom, KMH Gems & Jewelry, represents Howard's "big score"—he believes the gem is worth over $1 million and plans to sell it at auction to clear his massive gambling debts.
The plot moves from a static plan to a chaotic reality when NBA star Kevin Garnett (playing himself) visits Howard’s shop, brought in by Howard’s "connector," Demany (LaKeith Stanfield). Howard, unable to resist showing off, reveals the black opal to Garnett.
The action that truly "starts the clock" on the film's relentless tension is Howard’s decision immediately after Garnett leaves. Instead of safely holding the championship ring, Howard immediately takes it to a pawn shop to secure cash. He then uses that cash to place a high-stakes parlay bet on Garnett’s performance and the Boston Celtics' victory that evening.
This single decision creates a "triple-threat" conflict that sustains the rest of the movie:
The summary fails to mention that Arno cancels the bet Howard places with the ring money. This is a critical plot point because it means Howard loses the potential winnings (which would have solved his problems) and still owes the debt, intensifying his desperation.
The plot of Uncut Gems is set in motion by the discovery of a black opal in Ethiopia (2010) and its subsequent smuggling to Howard Ratner in NYC (2012). The narrative momentum accelerates when Kevin Garnett visits Howard's shop and becomes obsessed with the opal, borrowing it for luck in exchange for his 2008 NBA Championship ring. The inciting incident for the central conflict occurs when Howard, instead of holding the ring as collateral, immediately pawns it and uses the cash—which he had promised to his loan shark Arno—to place a high-stakes parlay bet on Garnett's game. This action alienates Arno (who cancels the bet, unbeknownst to Howard) and leaves Howard without the opal, the ring, or the money.