MOVIE REVIEW: “Hustle”; Sandler Scores Another Game-Winning Performance

Love him or hate him, Adam Sandler is an actor you can’t not pay attention to. Whether he’s goofing around with friends on sets for the sake of slapstick comedy, or putting in the work for well-deserved performance accolades, Sandler earns the attention he gets - both for better or worse. In the case of Hustle, I’m happy to say that it’s for the better. Sandler and a host of real life basketball players provide a truly human story within the realm of professional basketball.

In Hustle, Sandler plays former college star and current 76ers scout Stanley Sugerman. When his dream of being an NBA Coach is crushed by the sudden death of the Sixers owner (played by Robert Duvall), he must attempt to prove himself worthy of getting back in the game by finding the next great player. His journey leads him to Spain and Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez), a talented albeit troubled street baller, and they embark on a mission to prove they both belong in the NBA.

I cannot rave enough about Sandler and his performance in this film. Despite his insistence on producing and starring in low-brow comedies like Hubie Halloween and Murder Mystery - bread and butter content that jumpstarted his career in the first place - Sandler has proven he has the chops to hold down more sophisticated roles. His leading part in Hustle is one of those stand out opportunities for him that, when paired with recent sleeper drama Uncut Gems, is a solid double-double for the actor and filmmaker. And while the expectation here might be for another strong dramatic performance in Hustle, the film also nails a more refined humorous tone at all the right moments.

Additionally, the camera work is phenomenal, further bolstering the quality of this production. Director Jeremiah Zagar teams up again cinematographer Zak Mulligan, who served as director of photography on Zagar’s 2018 narrative feature debut film We The Animals, to bring a creative eye and strong visual presence to Hustle. The training montages and in game situations play out as if you’re living it right there on the court with the actors. Hustle does a good job of giving us believable, relatable human characters to root for.

Buoyed by Sandlers' performance, a heartwarming story, and stunning camera work, Hustle is a breakaway slam dunk. And after an unfortunate Oscar nomination snub following his work on Uncut Gems, I’m also rooting for Sandler to win the recongition he deserves this time around.

MoviesTimothy NagleJune 9, 2022adam sandler, hustle, netflix, movie review, jeremiah zagar, zak mulligan, juancho hernangomezComment