The movie also takes full advantage of the talent on display, with thrilling basketball sequences utilizing the unbelievable skills of the cast. Sandler is terrific in the lead role, as are Hernangómez and NBA star Anthony Edwards in supporting roles. When he spots the young Bo Cruz (played by real NBA player Juancho Hernangómez) at a pickup game in Spain, it seems his luck may finally be turning.įeaturing a star-studded cast of movie stars and basketball stars alike, Hustle is an ode to the joys and the struggles of basketball, and of making your passion your job. When those dreams seem to be about to come true and then are suddenly dashed, Sandler’s Stanley Sugerman must find a generational prospect or risk losing his job. In Hustle, Sandler plays a former college player who has had a long career as a scout for the 76ers, with dreams of becoming a coach. So, who better to put together one of the best sports movies in years? The tales of his pickup basketball exploits are legendary, he’s a huge Knicks fan, and his work in Uncut Gems is the closest I’ve ever seen to a filmic representation of what it feels like to root for a sports team you love in a high-pressure situation. Zosha Millman HustleĬast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangómez, Queen LatifahĪdam Sandler loves basketball. A thrill ride and a Greek tragedy, all in one. Revolution is messy, and Athena understands that spill happens on both sides. But in a feast like Athena, expertly blending all its ingredients into something truly meaty, nothing is simple.
In a lesser movie, the nature of the drama would feel easier to stick in a neat box, or there’d be a clear moment that defines things.
While the movie has (rightfully) gotten attention for its single-shot sequences, Gavras uses them to a beautiful end - at once highlighting the chaos of the last stand, and letting shared gazes of Karim and Abdel feel weighty with just a few cuts. What works about Athena is how these things merge into a grander story like the cries of its rebels or the heavily armored police retaliating against them, every little bit is part of a more momentous whole. It’s truly impossible to separate out the best part of the movie - is it the performances of Sami Slimane and Dali Benssalah as Karim and Abdel, two brothers each struggling with their youngest brother’s death? The long tracking shots director Romain Gavras expertly utilizes to mount the tension in every scene? The arch soundtrack? Or maybe it’s just the beauty of every frame, capturing a neighborhood in revolt, intent on waging war against the police to make themselves heard. Cast: Sami Slimane, Dali Benssalah, Ouassini EmbarekĪthena is the very definition of a movie firing on every cylinder.
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