's growth as an actor continues, as two of his career-defining projects have been named one of the best movies of the last 25 years, despite Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise only getting credited with one. Sandler became a beloved comedy star thanks to his time as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and his hit comedies, like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Big Daddy.
Now, two of the movies that helped convince people of Sandler's versatility have been named as among the best movies of the 21st century so far. The New York Times took on the daunting task of assembling a list of the best movies from the last 25 years, including ranking Adam Sandler's Uncut Gems at #58 and Punch-Drunk Love at #56.
Uncut Gems making the list of the greatest movies of the 21st century shows the growing appreciation for the movie. Indeed, it was hailed by critics when it was released, earning an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as winning Sandler Best Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards.
No longer is he seen as a comedic actor who has wowed critics with an unexpected performance, but rather a versatile actor who can jump back and forth between roles like these.
The movie was seen as Sandler's best work to date, with plenty of Oscar buzz for his performance. However, it took audiences a bit longer to get on board with this kind of role from Sandler. While he is funny as Howard, he is also frustrating, obnoxious, pathetic, and sometimes excruciatingly hard to watch. It is a lot to take for fans who are used to cheering for Sandler's character in every movie he is in.
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Arguably more surprising than Uncut Gems' placement is where the list put Punch-Drunk Love. Sandler's breakout dramatic role in Punch Drunk Love only has a score of 79% of Rotten Tomatoes, which may not seem high to justifty a spot on this list, but it's story and characters has long helped it earn recognition as one of the best romantic comedies of the 2000s.
Uncut Gems is a cinematic experience unlike any other. With no graphic violence or world-saving stakes, it is still one of the most suspenseful and anxiety-inducing movies I have ever experienced. .
The directing team of the Safdie Brothers masterfully control the tension, but Sandler is the real star. He is exhilarating from beginning to end, with Howard making one irresponsible decision after another that makes the audience groan, yet still love the journey. He is not concerned with making Howard likable, but just compelling.
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It's nice to see Punch-Drunk Love on this as well, but what's perhaps most surprising about this is how much recognition this allots to Adam Sander, relative to other stars. For instance, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg only have one movie that The New York Times counts as one of the best films of the century: Minority Report, which was directed by Spielberg and starred Cruise.
As a long-time Adam Sandler fan, it's great to see the actor's filmography getting so much representation. To have two movies named among the best in the last 25 years is an impressive achievement.
