This week Sam looks at Adam Sandler's latest foray into a dramatic role - Netflix's Hustle.
Directed by Jeremiah Zagar, the film follows Sandler's Stanley Sugarman, a basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers who discovers Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez), a phenomenal street ball player in Spain.
Sugarman sees the potential of Cruz leading to success for them both.
Sandler's performance has heart, grit and certainly is not without comedy - Sugarman is three dimensional, has life and palpable emotion. It is another example of Sandler's range, following 2019's Uncut Gems.
The fact the movie has a real NBA player for Cruz makes the scenes where he plays all the better. Of course there's plenty of actors who could imitate the game, but Hernangomez moves like a real player and has the natural subconscious physicality that adds to the immersion and authenticity of Cruz' character.
The relationship between Sugarman and Cruz is authentic, you believe it. Like the entire movie, it has heart and sensitivity.
Hustle is a story about a couple of dads at their core trying to do right by their kids, with a couple of decent moments that got me emotional.
It doesn't mess about too much either, the script by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters keeps the story tight and focussed on the journey and action. There was a fair bit of basketball jargon that flew over my head throughout. Not to the detriment of the film by any means.
Akin to the Creed or Karate Kid franchises, it leads up to a gripping showdown with a rival. Fetters' previous credits include A Star is Born and Remember Me, so the emotional heart of the film is in good hands.
Adam Sandler stars in basketball movie Hustle. Photo: Supplied
The cinematography by Zak Mulligan is a massive standout. The way the camera creatively leads you through the space of every scene, especially the complex basketball scenes is inspired.
The entire soundtrack by Dan Deacon has no reason to be as good as it is, it's just a humble basketball movie after all! Each scene is elevated by the score, which is used in a way that could easily be cringey, but for me pulled me even further into the story.
However I can't help but wonder if the film is othering - it's another tale of a non-American from a low socioeconomic area who goes from rags to riches because a white person saw potential in them. Does it reinforce the otherness of foreigners in the NBA, or show the difficulties of international players trying to get into the saturated market of the American League? It's an important conversation.
Regardless, it's a huge recommendation from me.
It's a very easy watch with great performances and a story that doesn't deal with huge ideas, but those which it does are simple and powerful.
