After Adam Sandler gave a performance that many believe should have earned him an Oscar nomination, it appears he's going right back to the Safdie brothers, the very people who made that all possible when they collaborated together to make Uncut Gems back in 2019.
Uncut Gems, which was penned by Ronald Bronstein, starred Sandler as jeweler/gambling addict Howie Ratner. The A24 film chronicled Ratner's efforts to retrieve an expensive gem he purchased in order to pay off his debts, and the misguided decisions he makes along the way.
Because of the strong reception to Uncut Gems, and more specifically to Sandler's performance, Sandler confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he will be collaborating with the Safdie Brothers in another film that currently is an untitled project. Although the details are murky, Sandler expressed his excitement to work with the brothers again primarily because of their notable work ethic. "They're working hard on it," Sandler says of the brothers. "Their work ethic is bananas. They're always working, always writing, always thinking. I don't know what I can tell you, but it's gonna be very exciting. It's different. But I don't want them to ever say, 'What the hell did you tell him that for?' So I'll just let them talk [about it]."
Whenever a well-known actor known for his comedic work does something out of his comfort zone, audiences will pay attention to see how different he is from his usual characters because it's tough to pull off. However, Sandler did just that in Uncut Gems​​​​​​, just like he did in Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me. Most comedians' best performances as actors come from their non-comedies, like Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Bill Murray in Lost in Translation. With Sandler's performances in movies like Uncut Gems, it's clear he's capable of putting on similar performances.
It's heartwarming enough that Sandler seemingly wants to be in good films again. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Sandler was involved in comedies that not only weren't that funny, but as time went on, it became abundantly clear that he didn't even care if the films were good or not. Collaborating with the same filmmakers that put some respect on his name gives off the impression that he's gotten past that and is willing to try again.
Now the only question that remains is what Sandler will do in his next performance with the Safdie brothers. Obviously, he can't play Howie Ratner again, and if he plays a character like him, then he's not really trying as much as he is relying on what's worked in the past. If Sandler wants that respect as a dramatic actor, he should use his charismatic chops to play as many different characters as possible. No matter what happens, exciting times should be ahead for Sandler.
Uncut Gems can currently be watched on Netflix.
Source: Entertainment Weekly