Adam Sandler may be best known for his comedic roles, but the star increasingly is winning praise and awards buzz for his dramatic work. With Hustle, he has found the perfect storm for his talents in playing a veteran scout for a basketball team who aspires to the top coaching job. The Netflix film is part of his deal with the streamer, but it stands apart and has now put Sandler back in the hunt for his first Oscar nomination.
If there was any justice he would have received one for his work in Uncut Gems, the film that brought him much praise and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Performance. Other highlights of Sandler’s acting career include Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love, The Meyerowitz Stories, Reign Over Me,and Funny People.
Joining me for this week’s edition of my Deadline video series, The Actor’s Side, we talk about Hustle, being taken seriously as an actor, Sandler’s own favorites in a career that also includes such highlights as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, Hotel Transylvania and so many others. We visit Sandler on location at the West L.A. production offices of his company, Happy Madison. To watch our conversation, just click on the link above.
Join me every Wednesday during Oscar season for another edition of The Actor’s Side.