Hustle

Hustle (2022) is about an NBA scout who finds a player in Spain. Stanley Sugerman has spent years travelling the world watching games; he never sees his family and wants to coach. One day in Madrid he sees a man called Bo Cruz in a street game. Nobody knows him; he works in construction and has a daughter. Stanley brings him to America with his own money and the team does not approve. There is one thing at the centre: talent is not enough. Bo is a good player, but getting through the combine requires preparation, exposure, stamina and nerve. The training sections are the best of it. Juancho Hernangómez, who plays Bo, is not an actor; he genuinely plays in the NBA. Most of the players in the film are professional athletes, and that is what makes the game scenes work. Adam Sandler stars, outside his usual comic register; this is a sports drama and he takes it seriously. LeBron James is among the producers. The scenes away from the court follow the template: time not given to family, a conflict with management, one last chance. It was made by Netflix. The sport was shot in real arenas with real players and very little doubling. It runs 117 minutes. Good for: sports drama, basketball, and Sandler's serious work. Less good for: the story is predictable and the off court sections are formulaic.