Adam Sandleris a good actor, full stop.
No amount ofterrible Netflix moviescan change that.
They shouldnt be so surprised, though.
(Think ofTom HanksinA League of Their OwnorBrad PittinOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood.)
This is somethingUncut Gemsdirectors Josh and Benny Safdie must have realized when they cast Sandler as protagonist Howard Ratner.
This is not unique to the movie or role.
Instead, I found myself utterly fascinated whenever Sandler was onscreen.
Take this scene, for instance (start about 50 seconds in):
Its all right there.
Anderson has made no secret of his love for Sandler and his comedies.
And it was so exciting when he would flip out.
That when he really did go there, you couldnt see the whites of his eyes anymore.
Anderson draws on other sides of Sandler, too.
Predictably, Sonny starts to bond with Julian and eventually must fight for his right to retain custody.
Look at Sandlers performance in their parting scene:
Manipulative, sure (that score!
(For instance,Bill Hader, excellent on HBOsBarry, is much more concerned with the latter.)
Its no coincidence that Sandlers best dramatic showcases utilize these qualities to superb effect.
But that doesnt change the fact that Sandler is talented.
You wouldnt cast Sandler as Abraham Lincoln, but that doesnt erase the brilliance of what he can do.
You wouldnt cast Tom Hanks as Howard Ratner, either.
Its also another credit to Sandler that he knows exactly how to weaponize his persona with the right role.
(Think Fondas great villainous performance inOnce Upon a Time in the West.)
Hes undeniably a movie star, but hes also an actor.
