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Hustle (2022 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Hustle' is a 2022 American drama film directed by Jeremiah Zagar, from a screenplay by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters. The film stars Adam Sandler as an NBA scout who discovers a raw but talented basketball player in Spain (Juancho Hernangmez) and tries to prepare him for the NBA draft. Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, Robert Duvall, Heidi Gardner, and Anthony Edwards also star, while LeBron James acts as producer through his SpringHill Company banner.
'Hustle' was released by Netflix on June 8, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics, with Sandler's performance singled out for praise.
Plot
Stanley Sugerman, a jaded international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, lives life on the road searching for future stars. His frequent travel takes a toll on his wife Teresa and daughter Alex. While he is liked by 76ers owner Rex Merrick, he clashes with Rex's son Vincent. Rex promotes Stanley to assistant coach, allowing him to remain at home with his family. The same evening, however, Rex dies, leaving Vince in charge. Three months later, Vince demotes Stanley again to scout, sending him overseas to find a new star. Meeting with his former college teammate Leon Rich, he encourages him to leave the 76ers and also become a player agent. When Stanley's plan to scout another player in Spain falls through, watching a local pick-up game, he is stunned by an incredibly talented unknown player.
Stanley attempts to speak with the man, Bo Cruz, but is rebuffed until he makes a Facetime call to Dirk Nowitzki to prove his legitimacy. Bo and his mother Paola recount his life story: he was a talented player from an early age and was invited to play in America at age 15, but stayed in Spain after his girlfriend became pregnant with his daughter Lucia. Bo now works construction and makes extra money hustling at basketball. After an impressive workout with members of the Spanish national team, Stanley urges the 76ers front office to sign Cruz immediately, but Vincent is unconvinced. Taking matters into his own hands, he pays to bring Cruz to the US, telling him he will be signed by the Sixers or enter the NBA draft. At the airport, Bo is detained for an aggravated assault conviction he received in Spain. He is released, but warned that he could be deported if he were to be arrested in America.
Stanley takes Bo to play at a showcase organized by Leon, which is also attended by the presumptive second overall pick Kermit Wilts. Stanley advises Bo that if he shuts down Wilts, it will significantly raise his stock with the Sixers. During the workout, Cruz shows flashes of talent, but struggles on offense and at guarding Wilts, who trash talks him and throws him off his game. When Vince passes on Bo, Stanley quits the 76ers to prepare Cruz for the NBA Draft Combine six weeks away. Telling Bo his only weakness is his sensitivity, he builds on his mental toughness. Teresa and Alex assist with the training by preparing meals and taping workouts. Bo improves dramatically through Stanley's coaching, but Leon cannot get him into the Draft Combine after Vince spreads information about Bo's assault charge.
Furious at Stanley, Bo eventually reveals the charge stemmed from a fight with Lucia's mother's boyfriend after she tried to claim sole custody of Lucia. Stanley admits his injured hand was from a drunk driving accident while in college, derailing his basketball team's season and putting him in jail for six months. Their trust renewed, Stanley works tirelessly to get Bo into the combine, without success. To create interest, the Sugermans enlist Julius Erving to create a viral video of "the Boa Challenge", where people, including 76ers player Tobias Harris, attempt to score on Bo for money. Cruz is eventually accepted into the combine, and Stanley flies Lucia and Paola to the US to support him. Bo impresses in the physical elements of the combine, but faces off with Wilts again in a five-on-five exhibition game. He initially performs well, but Kermit begins talking trash about Bo's daughter and mother, so he eventually breaks, pushing Wilts down, and storming out.
Both Stanley and Bo think their journey is over. At the airport for Bo's flight back to Spain, Leon calls about a private game for players and front office members that Bo and Kermit have both been invited to. Playing without pressure, Cruz locks down Wilts defensively and demonstrates his offensive abilities. Rex's daughter Kat, who recognizes Stanley's talent, reveals she is taking over from Vince and rehires him as an assistant coach. Five months later, the 76ers and Boston Celtics tip off for a game against each other with Stanley now the assistant coach of the 76ers and Bo playing for the Boston Celtics.
Cast
* Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman, a scout and coach for the 76ers
* Queen Latifah as Teresa Sugerman, Stanley Sugerman's wife
* Ben Foster as Vince Merrick, Rex's son and 76ers co-owner
* Juancho Hernangmez as Bo Cruz, Stanley's basketball player recruit from Spain
** Silas Graham as young Bo Cruz
* Robert Duvall as Rex Merrick, Vince's father and 76ers owner
* Jordan Hull as Alex Sugerman, Stanley's daughter
* Heidi Gardner as Kat Merrick, Rex's daughter
* Mara Botto as Paola Cruz, Bo's mother
* Ainhoa Pillet as Lucia Cruz, Bo's daughter
* Anthony Edwards as Kermit Wilts, a player and rival to Bo
* Kenny Smith as Leon Rich, a sports agent and Stanley's friend
* Jaleel White as Blake
* Jerry Lobrow as Sports Agent
Several current and former NBA players and coaches portray themselves or other characters. Trae Young, Jordan Clarkson, Khris Middleton, Aaron Gordon, Kyle Lowry, Seth Curry, Luka Doncic, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, Aaron McKie, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, Brad Stevens, Doc Rivers, Dave Joerger, Mark Jackson, Sergio Scariolo, Jos Caldern, Leandro Barbosa, lex Abrines and Maurice Cheeks portray themselves, while Boban Marjanovic plays the "Big Serbian" and Moritz Wagner the German "Haas". Street ball legends Grayson "The Professor" Boucher, Larry "Bone Collector" Williams, and Waliyy "Main Event" Dixon appear. Felipe Reyes, Piere Oriola and Juancho's brother Willy Hernangmez appear as members of the Spanish national team. Local Philadelphia journalist Anthony Gargano plays himself.
Production
In May 2020, Adam Sandler joined the cast of the film, with Jeremiah Zagar directing from a screenplay by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters, with Netflix set to distribute. Sandler had seen Zagar's 2018 narrative feature debut 'We the Animals', and asked him to take a look at the script for 'Hustle'. Zagar was initially hesitant, before becoming intrigued at the idea of shooting basketball in a cinematic way and signing on to the project.
In September 2020, Queen Latifah announced she had joined the cast of the film. In October 2020, Robert Duvall, Ben Foster, Juancho Hernangmez, Jordan Hull, Mara Botto, Ainhoa Pillet, Kenny Smith, and Kyle Lowry joined the cast of the film.
Filming began in Philadelphia in October 2020, and continued at the Coatesville Area High School in Pennsylvania. Many Philadelphia school, college, and university buildings were filming locations, including Tom Gola Arena at La Salle University, where the combine scene was filmed, and the Liacouras Center at Temple University, where Sandler's character is depicted playing college basketball. Multiple scenes were filmed in Center City, Philadelphia, including on Market Street and the Italian Market, as well as in Manayunk and South Philadelphia. Additional filming took place in Camden, New Jersey.
Reception
Audience viewership
'Hustle' was released in select theaters June 3, 2022 and worldwide on Netflix on June 8. According to Netflix, it was the platform's most-viewed film between June 819.Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 93% based on 158 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's consensus reads, "'Hustle' doesn't have any fancy moves, but it doesn't need themAdam Sandler's everyman charm makes this easy layup fun to watch."Sandler's performance was singled out for praise. For ABC News, critic Peter Travers wrote: "It's always a slam dunk when Adam Sandler drops his doofus routine and really acts. And here, as a basketball scout who yearns to coach, he infuses every frame of this formulaic crowd-pleaser with a real-deal love of the game. Hot damn! We have a winner." Owen Gleiberman felt Sandler "plays Stanley with an inner sadness, a blend of weariness and resilience, and a stubborn faith in the game that leaves you moved, stoked, and utterly convinced." Robert Daniels for 'Polygon' praised Sandler's "stunning, often unlikely intimacy", called Hernangomez "captivating", and complimented the filmmaking showcasing the basketball play, but felt the writers "struggle to develop their characters". Nina Metz of the 'Chicago Tribune' was critical of the script, stating, "There arent really any characters, it's kind of remarkable. It's a film that doesnt even rely on archetypes, it simply populates the screen with people, some of whom occasionally say things."
References
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