Claw, on Netflix: how is the new Adam Sandler doing

There are actors who are successful in comedy and try their hand at dramatic roles. Adam Sandler amassed fortunes with films like A Great Dad and the one for The Devil’s Son or mystery on board he received, my God, 20 million dollars, but also, like Francella, sometimes he bets on another cinema. Netflix just released Clawwhich is already the most viewed on the platform.

Saving the differences between one and the other, there was a time when if we saw the late Robin Williams with a beard in a movie, it never faded: it was a drama. In awakenings, with De Niro; in fisher of illusions, by Terry Gilliam; in in search of destinywith Matt Damon.

Adam Sandler inside Rough diamonds (Uncut gems), by the Safdie brothers, sported a padlock beard, and inside ClawYou guessed it: his beard accompanies him throughout the film.

If it serves to warn fans of the comedian’s A handsome dadand other more commercial proposals, which if they sit down to see Claw you won’t find Sandler burping or making gas or poop jokes, it’s worth warning.

Isn’t it a comedy?

With the production of LeBron James – the NBA’s most millionaire active player – and the Sandler, the actor is a scout for the NBA, specifically the Sixers, or Philadelphia 76ers, the club that hasn’t won a title since 1983. Stanley Sugerman spends his time traveling overseas. He eats poorly, sleeps little and neglects his family, his wife Teresa (Queen Latifah) and their young daughter.

A former Sixers player, Philadelphia 76ers owner (Robert Duvall) trusts him blindly and wants him as an assistant manager. But it doesn’t happen that the same day, at night, he dies and his son Vince (Ben Foster, who usually accepts these unpleasant roles) is left in charge. Stanley has to go back to travel, and it is in a Mallorcan street that Bo Cruz, a 22-year-old bricklayer, plays. And go in the long of 2.06m. to a diamond in the rough, paraphrasing that other film.

Indeed, in the original script, Sandler went to China and found the new talent there. What happened? Netflix suggested that he change his destination, since his streaming service is not available in the Communist country … And so he ended up recruiting the Spaniard.

Claw They are two losers – you will see because only if you watch the film, because I will not ruin anything -, who have everything to feel defeated, but who do not abandon their dreams.

Or rather, they love what they do. And it is already known that if you do what you want, at least in Hollywood you can improve yourself.

because the of Claw it is the story of reaching a goal, of the realization of a desire: your own, to play in the NBA; that of another, to be a coach, from giving everything and despite feeling that the recognition will never come from them.

That’s why Jeremiah Zagar’s film will feature exhaustive training sessions, lots of sweating, and few smiles. That’s why Bo and Stanley honor Rockyin the same Philadelphia that Stallone spent energy and torn shoes on.

And hence the original title, feverish activityfor the hustle and bustle.

Spaniard Juancho Hernangómez, Utah Jazz striker, gets a realistic performance in his first cinematic experience. And a rarity in history is that the “bad boy” is an African American (Anthony Edwards, teammate of Hernangómez in the Minnesota Timberwolves; not to be confused with the actor of top Gun), which harasses the Hispanic immigrant.

And for basketball fans, the movie is heaven. There are current and past glories that interpret themselves. From Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Dirk Nowitzki to Allen Iverson, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry.

“Claw”

Very good

sports drama. United States, 2023. Original title: “Febrile activity”. 118 ‘, SAM 16. Of: Jeremiah Zagar. With: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, Robert Duvall. Available in: Netflix.