An intensely stressful drama that takes you through the life of an addict. Howard is not your stereotypical addict asd his vice does not involve drinking nor drugs. His addiction (along with gambling) is risk. Howard seeks no reward without heavy risk involved. He cuts everything close to the chest in a movie that will leave knots in your chest as well. The Safdie brothers do an excellent job of crafting one of the most unlikeable characters tograce the big scene while still making you want to root for him against all odds. Most of the cast is exceptional, Sandler is obviously the standout performance but beyond him Kevin Garnett is exceptional for making his actig debut. A great film that isn't afraid to take chances, hopefully Hollywood will catch on.