I’ve been chewing on this one ever since I saw Uncut Gems. It’s a weird Adam Sandler take that I don’t quite know how to explain (not being able to explain your ideas is always the mark of a good writer). But, I look back at Uncut Gems and wonder why everyone was so shocked by his performance. Y’all act like the man has given you no indication whatsoever that he can actually act. I’m not saying it’s his forte, or that he has an extensive catalog of inspiring performances. But, I can’t point to his prior “serious” roles and rank them either, because I haven’t seen them all. Funny People is a good example – people often point to Spanglish and Punch-Drunk Love (for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2003) as well.
As an actor, he’s proven capable of handling more dramatic roles. That’s all I’m saying. I wasn’t as high on Uncut Gems as Brandon was. I wasn’t particularly surprised by how well he played the part of Howard Ratner either. Should he have gotten a little more love throughout awards season? Maybe. But, at the very least, it’s an indication that Sandler can be that guy who does all the lighthearted shenanigans early on in his career, makes his money, and then swoops in later on to make a push for an Oscar.
When it comes to having a keen business mind and building a brand that people recognize and continue handing their money over to though, Sandler has been one of the more underrated guys in the industry.
His comedies caught fire in the mid-1990s and Sandler built a cult-like following of people who, to this day, still quote some of those early Sandler movies routinely. As a producer and a writer, he evolved in the early and mid-2000s. He started doing some of the family stuff, and as all of those people who flocked to his shtick in the 90s grew up and had kids, there was a new generation of young ‘uns that loved Adam Sandler. Hell, Sandler’s biggest box office successes didn’t come until the Hotel Transylvania and Grown Ups franchises (shout out to Anger Management, though – maybe my favorite of his movies).
But, it showed his ability to adapt to the times and keep his name and his brand in the public vernacular. Now, he’s at a point in his career when he’s doing the stuff like Uncut Gems. I hope we get more of that Adam Sandler, and hell, maybe one of these days, he takes home an Oscar. For his contributions to American pop culture, I think he’s earned it.
He may not have gotten all the critical acclaim throughout his career, but the fact that he’s still a star (or if you want to debate that, at least admit that he’s still relevant in 2020) after 30 years should command a hell of a lot of respect.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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