“Obsession’s gonna beat talent every time”-Stanley Sugerman.
How do you know if your love for basketball is enough? According to Stanley Sugerman, you will know it when you are obsessed with it. Netflix’s latest production, Hustle, follows the story of a young individual Bo Cruz, a street basketball player in Spain trying to get into the NBA. Sports dramas are much similar in their storylines. These movies follow the inspirational journey of an athlete who transitions to a pro from an underdog. So when it comes to the success of these movies, there are some formulas to make them work. In Hustle, there were two: Obsession and Adam Sandler.
Adam Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, a basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, in this feel-good sports drama. As a scout, Stanley is always on the road looking for talented athletes around the globe. He does not sleep right, does not eat right, and is just exhausted most of the time. Stanley would rather spend time with his family than wake up in a different city each week. He wants to be a coach and become a part of the NBA as he was once before. An opportunity presents itself to him at a street ball game in Spain, where he spots a virtuoso basketball player. Stanley thinks Bo should be in the 76ers’ arsenal. But how do you tell your boss, ‘I am right, and you are not?’ Sugerman has invested more in Bo than any other coach would. More than his wife would agree. But it’s too late to ponder because Bo has arrived in Philadelphia.
Juancho Hernangomez’s Bo Cruz is a construction worker, a father, and a son. He plays street ball to make some petty cash and keep the bread coming. Bo is aware of his “status” in society and knows better than to dream big. So when Stanley approaches him with the offer to play for the 76ers, he is skeptical. But he concedes. Sugerman can be persuasive and very annoying. Juancho’s character represents the insecurity of a father and a working-class man. Bo’s thoughts have always been around his mother and daughter. It’s difficult for him to leave his family and be in a different state. But that is what Hustle is trying to represent. Is he obsessed enough for the game? Does he want to be a part of it? Stanley needs the answers to be yes. But what does Bo need?
Although the character ‘Bo Cruz’ is fictional, Juancho Hernangomez is not. Juancho is a real-life basketball player, currently playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets drafted him in 2016. Since then, he has played for the Timberwolves, Celtics, and Spurs and found his way to the Jazz. Also, Hernangomez has been a part of the Spain National team. It explains all the moves and skills Bo Cruz displays in the movie. You have to be someone practicing every day to possess such ball-handling skills. The makers of the movie wanted to bring out originality in the film. Hence, they cast Juancho after watching his audition tape.
As far as his acting debut goes, Juancho surpassed people’s expectations.
It would be ludicrous to expect him to be the standout performer when you have people like Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Robert Duvall, and many other veteran actors in the cast. However, his acting skills leave no complaints.
Adam Sandler has set the bar too high with his performances in Uncut Gems, Reign Over Me, Punch Drunk Love, and many others.
Even though Hustle may not be the best movie of his life, he has proved how versatile he can be. Seeing Sandler throughout the film feels like comedians can play any role because it is one of the most complicated genres.
Sandler brought humor into the movie as he always does. But he does not lose the touch of seriousness his character requires. He has been both funny and impactful. Sports dramas tend to have monologues between coaches and players. What sets them apart is their delivery. Sandler pushed all humor aside and once again delivered a powerful performance. It was as if he was talking to every basketball fan watching and not just Bo.
Another highlight of the movie is its originality. Adam Sandler is one of the biggest basketball-affiliated Hollywood stars. He is one of the producers of the movie along with Lebron James, the 4-time NBA champion. Hence, it goes without saying that Hustle has tried to bear resemblance with the NBA as much as possible. Most of the cast consists of current NBA players, coaches, scouts, and veterans. You have Tobias Harris, Seth Curry, Trae Young, Doc Rivers, and the legend Dr. J. Anthony Edwards, Juancho’s former Minnesota teammate, who plays the role of the anti-protagonist Kermit Wilts.
Aside from the incredible star cast, the movie put in the effort to show the behind-the-scenes of the NBA. The training scenes depicted how much work a player has to put in to play for the NBA. In collaboration with the NBA, the makers created a set of the NBA Combine. Coaches from the NBA were astonished by the uncanny resemblance. The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the collaborators. So the film gives you a closer look at their offices, training facilities, and meetings. Unlike most movies of its genre, Hustle gives you a detailed breakdown of an athlete’s path. It shows the small steps of progress.
Seeing the amount of love Adam Sandler holds for basketball, filming this movie was probably a ‘fanboy experience’ for him. The movie feels good to watch because it delivers many small messages. For instance, Stanley’s role as a father in his daughter’s dream of becoming a filmmaker could be something other parents can relate to. Bo’s relation to Stanley depicts how the relationship between a mentor and a student evolves. Also, Hustle delivers the message that basketball is not just a game. For people like Bo, it is an opportunity to dream beyond their capabilities. For basketball fans, the movie is another reason to love the game.