Hustle (2022)
Dir Jeremiah Zagar
Written by Taylor Fetters
Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangómez, Ben Foster, Kenny Smith, Robert Duval, Anthony Edwards, Jordan Hull.
Stanley Sugarman (Sandler) is the overworked talent scout for the Philadelphia 76ers Basketball team. He is nearing the last decade or so of his career, and has just been promised his dream job, the Assistant Coach by the GM Rex (Duval) so he no longer has to travel internationally. When Rex dies suddenly, and his son Vin (Foster) takes over as GM, he takes away the AC job from Stan, demoting him back to his original job.
On a trip to Spain, he spots a gifted young player named Bo Cruz (Hernangómez, himself a real life NBA forward). He quickly takes him back to the US, away from his mother, and young daughter, promising him success, putting all his faith in him, even if it means ousting himself from his new boss
Very well made film, from fairly newcomer Zagar (this being his second feature film), with stellar performances from non traditional actors like Hernangómez and Edwards (not that Edwards, but the professional basketball player. Ironically despite being rivals in the film, they have actually played on the same team in the past too.
Sandler, who has proven time and time again he can handle meatier roles, dominates as the downtrodden Stan – who has a loving family with a wife and daughter who adore him. Latifah is equally brilliant as his supporting wife. If I had to make any criticisms, it was that she a little too placid, especially in what should have been some ‘tense’ conversations between her character Teresa. It would have been better to see her handle some more drama in her portrayal. I enjoyed the pairing of Sandler and Latifah as husband/wife, and thought they had great chemistry.
There is a very engaging score that underplays throughout the film, especially throughout some of the training montages that Boa goes through.
Even though I am not a sports guy and as an Australian, basketball is not one of the most popular sports, I really enjoyed this. And the final moment between Sandler and Hernangómez is bittersweet, despite the somewhat ‘gotcha’ ending.
4/5