Nick Clement takes a look at the brand new Adam Sandler movie taking the internet by storm. Currently streaming on Netflix here is Nick’s Hustle review.
After a down-on-his-luck basketball scout discovers an extraordinary player abroad, he brings the phenom back without his team’s approval.
This was a solid film but the conventional script kept it from reaching the next level – I called all the narrative shots (except for one bit at the very end) and even though the story was comfortably predictable, it remains entertaining all throughout.
Adam Sandler yet again delivers a commanding dramatic performance, this time as an basketball scout who is looking for the next superstar, while also looking to take his own career up a notch.
Given that the NBA’s approval stamp was all over this movie, you get all sorts of terrific on-court action, thanks to the involvement of numerous pro athletes, all of whom really looked like they wanted to be a part of a major motion picture. And the film scores some extra three-pointers with Juancho Hernangomez’s charming performance as the next would-be-phenom, who is imported from Spanish street-ball and dropped into the high-flying world of the big-money pros.
The villain brushstrokes were painted a bit too on-the-nose for me (Ben Foster is always good but he’s twirling his moustache, here), and there was very little contextual shading to the writing, but Jeremiah Zagar’s fluid direction keeps everything moving, and the recurring stylistic choice of the ovalized lens flares was very nice.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
Hustle review by Nick Clement
Our Rating
Summary
A solid film that flourishes with the official backing of the NBA but it remains a solid and entertaining picture despite being predictable throughout
