Haven’t seen ‘Uncut Gems’? It might be Adam Sandler’s best work.Credit:Netflix
In 2019,Sandler gave what’s widely acknowledged as the“performance of his career”. His portrayal of compulsive gambler Howard Ratner in the Safdie brothers’Uncut Gems was so transfixing and electric he wasseen as a lock for an Oscar nomination. (Seriously if you haven’t watched,get on it).
But when the list came out,he was nowhere to be found. And Academy members were pretty open about the fact that his reputation had likely let him down.
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One unnamed actor told theNew York Post that,though Sandler’s performance was “a tour de force”,other members might not have bothered to watch the film and instead judge on his“cheesy Netflix comedies”.
“Unfortunately,actors become brands,” he said. “Sandler’s brand doesn’t scream ‘Oscar’.”
It’s true that Sandler has made some terrible movies (I have zero defence for things likeJack and Jill andThe Ridiculous 6). But that’s no reason to ignore his obvious talents,and doing so shows a really limited understanding of his ‘brand’.
Good acting isn’t about being the most actorly. Really,it’s the exact opposite. It’s about capturing something honest and lively and relatable – and Sandler does that better than most.