‘Hustle’ Sports & Cinema Collaborate to Create a Masterpiece
Adam Sandler is the unsung hero of the NBA in 2022 (Why I Rate This Film a 8/10)
Often, movies and sports are viewed as opposites on a supposed scale of topics. But, much like an eclipse, sometimes the two meet in a beautiful cinematic collaboration. An example of such an occurrence is the new Netflix movie ‘Hustle’.
Starring Adam Sandler and what feels like half the NBA, it’s an ode to the magic of basketball. Encompassing the best parts of the game and movies creates a joyful experience for all audiences.
Adam Sandler’s career is mostly viewed as one filled with legendary comedic movies. However, in the second half of his life and career, he’s redefined himself as an actor capable of carrying severe roles. ‘Uncut Gems’ is one of the most electric and stressful movies that Sandler has ever been a part of. Now ‘Hustle’ adds to the growing trend of roles he’s taking on that have more weight.
‘Hustle’ follows Sandler’s character Stanley Sugerman, who is an NBA scout for the Philidelphia 76ers. On a scouting trip to Spain, he discovers a phenom street ball player, who could be his chance to achieve his dreams. But with opportunity comes the risk of it all crashing down.
Sandler’s love of basketball is well known, and so are the outfits he plays in. He has gone viral in the past for playing pick-up games on Long Island, New York. So it should really come as no surprise that he is the perfect fit for a movie about one of his passions.
Typically we think of professional basketball as being glamorous. Waking up in a million-dollar mansion, driving a Rolls Royce to the arena, and being greeted by thousands of fans when you step onto the court. However, just under the surface, there’s an underbelly of players who wake up every day with the dream of being signed to a team. ‘Hustle’ examines the underbelly of the league and the grit that it takes to achieve success in such a competitive world.
“Being the guy who finds the guy matters in this business.” Stanley Sugerman
Sandler's character (Stanley Sugerman) also has a lot of similarities to the basketball player he’s trying to break into the NBA, Bo Cruz (played by Juancho Hernangomez). Fun fact, Hernangomez is an actual active NBA player on the Utah Jazz. Anyways, I digress… Their characters both have pasts they’re trying to move on from and have an enduring love of the game.
Sandler and Hernangomez have the perfect chemistry for this movie. At times it’s hostile, and other times, it's friendly. The give and take in their relationship lends itself to coming across as real. Their journey is not an easy A to B; there are legitimate challenges they have to overcome both alone and together to reach their goal. Realness is one of the best aspects of this movie. The story may be far-fetched at face value, but the film makes a significant effort to make it feel tangible.
The movie also alleviates the serious parts with splashes of humor. It’s very familiar territory for Sandler. But even more impressive is Hernangomez’s ability to keep up with him and add his style of comedy into the mix.
With the perfect combination of grit and humor, this movie creates an enjoyable viewing experience for all audiences. It will leave all audiences walking away with a feeling similar to ‘Rocky’ or ‘Rudy’. The first is a noticeable influence during certain parts of the film. Check out ‘Hustle’ on Netflix and the trailer below!
Barry’s Bites Rating = 8.0/10
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