Adam Sandler wouldn't be the first person you'd think of getting a Standing Ovation, let alone at the Cannes Film Festival. The festival of cinema, set on the backdrop of the French Riviera, is famous for its slightly sniffy nature. The way critics behaved during the screening of Netflix's very first entry into the festival is proof of that fact. However, there are times when it can amaze you, and on Sunday night, after the screening of Noah Baumbach's latest film, The Meyerowitz Stories, something magical happened. The crowd got up, and gave Adam Sandler, the film's lead, a four-minute long standing ovation.
Sandler shocks Cannes, but in a good way
Baumbach's comedy-drama, The Meyerowitz Stories, is competing for a Palme d'Or this year at the Cannes Film Festival, which is the highest honour bestowed at the event. Adam Sandler stars alongside the likes of Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman. The film follows the story of a dysfunctional New York family and has recently been acquired by Netflix, and they'll be distributing the film on their online streaming platform. The movie currently has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been widely well received by critics, scoring an average of 7.5 out of 10.
However, it was reported by Deadline that the real reason the film got such a positive response at Cannes was due to Sandler’s performance, which demonstrated what a talented actor he really is, despite all the negative press he’s been receiving recently.
“Perhaps the [biggest surprise is] a sentence I thought I might never write: Is Adam Sandler a contender for Best Actor in Cannes?” wrote Deadline after having watched the film. Vanity Fair’s headline, “Adam Sandler Will Make You Forget He’s Adam Sandler in The Meyerowitz Stories”, echoed this feeling of shock people experienced after having seen the film.
Oscar buzz for Sandler?
However, this isn’t the first time Sandler has received praise for his performance. He showed us a completely different side to his acting ability in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love, in which he played Barry Egan, a psychologically troubled seller of novelty trinkets. He also surprised people with his honest portrayal of a dying comic in Funny People.
However, Sandler’s come under heavy criticism recently after having released a string of terrible movies with Netflix, the worst of which has to be The Ridiculous Six which currently has a score of 0 on Rotten Tomatoes. He’s just signed a new four-movie deal with Netflix, which The Meyerowitz Stories is one of.
“It’s different for a comedian when you get an offer like this,” Sandler said before the film’s screening. The overall sentiment is that Sandler delivered a stellar performance in The Meyerowitz Stories, and could very well be a contender for the Best Actor award at Cannes. There’s no telling where it might go after that… Oscar nomination perhaps? Who knows...
