Exploring the Cinema of the Safdie Brothers

Daddy Longlegs (2009)

Often considered their most personal work, Daddy Longlegs draws heavily from their own childhood and upbringing in New York. The film follows an erratic father who tries and fails to care for his two young sons during a short custody period. Shot with a documentary-like intimacy, the movie captures the unpredictability of childhood shaped by an unstable parent. It’s both tender and heartbreaking, offering a close look at flawed love and the chaos of everyday life. While it is less explosive than their later films, Daddy Longlegs laid the groundwork for the Safdies’ blend of realism and emotion.

Heaven Knows What (2014)

With Heaven Knows What, they explored the world of New York’s homeless heroin addicts, working closely with Arielle Holmes, whose memoir inspired the story. The film combines fiction and reality, casting nonprofessional actors alongside Holmes to create a realistic portrait of addiction, love, and desperation in lower-class society. Heaven Knows What is a brutally honest film that established the Safdies as bold storytellers of the unseen, often overlooked by mainstream cinema.

Good Time (2017)

Good Time marked the Safdie Brothers’ breakout moment. Starring Robert Pattinson in one of his most transformative roles, the film follows a small-time criminal over the course of one night as he tries to free his brother from jail. Their skill for building tension shines here, with neon-soaked cinematography and a pulsing score enhancing the chaos. The film is both a heart-racing thriller and a deeply human story about loyalty, desperation, and survival. Good Time solidified the Safdies as auteurs capable of turning a simple idea into a cinematic sprint.

Uncut Gems (2019)

If Good Time was a sprint, Uncut Gems is a full marathon of anxiety. Starring Adam Sandler in a career-defining dramatic role, the film invites viewers into the life of Howard Ratner, a diamond dealer whose compulsive gambling and relentless hustling threaten to consume him. Every scene unfolds with unbearable tension, as the Safdies’ signature style pulls audiences into a whirlwind of overlapping dialogue, claustrophobic framing, and constant momentum. More than just a crime drama, Uncut Gems is a depiction of addiction in all its forms: risk, chaos, and the thrill of the bet. It’s the Safdies at their most polished and intense, reinforcing their reputation as masters of cinematic tension.