What’s It About
After being fired, pro basketball scout, Stanley Beren, is excited, for the first time in a very long while, when he serendipitously discovers Spanish amateur baller, Bo Cruz, playing in a park outside Madrid. Fueled with new-found purpose, Stanley makes it his mission to groom Bo for the NBA as he believes they both can make it.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Adam Sandler has made a career out of doing silly comedies that don’t ask a lot of him as an actor, so it’s simple to forget that he was once such a serious actor in movies like “Punch-Drunk Love” and “Uncut Gems.” In “Hustle,” Sandler reminds us again that he can act seriously in a basketball story that is true to the game and true to feelings. Directed by Jeremiah Zagar, “Hustle” is a tale of Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a weary Philadelphia 76ers scout. He finds a talented player in Spain named Bo Cruz (real-life NBA player Juancho Hernangómez). Stanley is very committed to getting Bo to the NBA, risking his name and career on this unknown gem.What’s unique about “Hustle” is that it avoids most of the usual sports movie tropes. There is no title game, no last-second shot, and no rah-rah speech that changes everything. Instead, it offers a realistic look at what happens behind the scenes in pro basketball—the scouting, the politics, the workouts, and the personal sacrifices made by everyone involved. As a Black critic who grew up around basketball in my community, I enjoyed how authentic the movie was. There are not many basketball movies that get the culture of the sport right, but “Hustle” does. It has a number of different characters who seem human instead of having been included for representation’s sake and understand that nowadays, the sport is global. Sandler gives one of his best performances as Stanley, a man who has lost hope in his dreams of being a basketball coach but finds a new purpose in helping Bo. His is an earthy character—the way he watches game tapes while eating fast food, the way he deals with team issues, and specifically, the way he balances his love of basketball with his love of his family. Sandler brings Stanley’s love, fatigue, and redemption to life with earnest feelings instead of manipulative histrionics. Hernangómez is surprisingly good as Bo Cruz, bringing natural vulnerability and charisma to his character. As a novice actor, he tackles the dramatic moments with impressive restraint. The chemistry between Sandler and Hernangómez provides added value to the film, creating a mentor-mentee relationship that feels genuine instead of forced. Queen Latifah plays the role of Stanley’s wife, Teresa. Her part is not large, but she adds sensitivity and depth to what might have otherwise been a cardboard cut-out supporting spouse. Theirs seems an equal union, with Teresa possessing her own opinion and voice instead of existing solely to allow Stanley’s odyssey. The ensemble features several NBA players and actors who help make the film come alive. Some are legends like Dr. J and Kenny Smith, while others are contemporaries like Anthony Edwards, who plays Bo’s trash-talking rival. These basketball legends fit seamlessly into the story. Edwards, for example, shows great acting ability playing the villain Kermit Wilts, contributing more than the usual athlete cameo to the role. Director Jeremiah Zagar, whose background is in independent features, gives the film a gritty visual style that’s a contrast to the polished look of most sports movies. The basketball sequences are shot with kinetic energy and depict the sport’s physicality and pace without excessive stylized slow motion. The Philadelphia backdrop is depicted with documentary-style realism which shows both the basketball culture and working-class neighborhoods of the city. “Hustle” is doing right in its representation of the contemporary NBA Universe. It understands that basketball is an international game, as scouts scan the world over for the next superstar. The film reveals the frantic atmosphere of NBA tryouts and the hard truths of the sports business. In an era where players increasingly run their own careers, “Hustle” is relevant as it weighs how talent is scouted, developed, and sometimes ignored. The film is enjoyable, but it suffers from some weak aspects. At times, the plot resorts to easy solutions to carry on. Some of the motivations behind the characters’ actions, especially the 76ers owner (acted by Ben Foster), are shallow. Although the film steers clear of most stereotypes associated with sports films, some training scenes do seem like other films that we’ve previously experienced. But there’s more to “Hustle.” The film is about second chances: for Stanley to follow his dream of being a coach, for Bo to put food on the table for his family, and for both men to confront their individual obstacles. This is a film about fatherhood, mentorship, and persistence. The story goes beyond the court. Culturally, “Hustle” deserves credit for the way it portrays basketball as both a global business and a very personal pursuit. It shows players from diverse backgrounds being brought together by a passion for the game but also recognizes the financial pressures that push many players from poorer backgrounds. As someone who’s seen a lot of sports films that either simplify or sensationalize the Black athletic experience, I appreciate how “Hustle” presents its characters in a nuanced manner. No tales of a white savior here—just individuals of different backgrounds collaborating, competing, and attempting to excel at a demanding profession. “Hustle” reminds me of movies such as “He Got Game” and “Love & Basketball” that recognize how big a deal basketball is to culture but find an authentic human narrative. It does not attempt to make sweeping pronouncements about society or race—it simply tells a true story in which diversity is a natural part of the basketball world. In a time of franchise movies and marketable ideas, “Hustle” is different in that it is a character-driven movie that makes you think. It shows what Sandler can do when he takes a chance and plays a leading role. For basketball fans, “Hustle” is a behind-the-scenes look at the sport they love. For those less familiar with basketball, it’s an inspiring story of passion, dedication, and reaching for greatness. One way or another, it’s a film that delivers on and off the court..
OUR RATING – A STRAIGHTFORWARD 8