Adam Sandler made a lasting impression on Paul Thomas Anderson, the director ofThere Will Be BloodandPhantom Thread. Anderson recounts a specific performance of Sandler that made him realize the actor had great comedic talents as a performer.Audiences understandthe appeal of Sandler, a comedic actor who rose to fame in the mid-90s. From classics likeHappy Gilmore,Billy Madison, andThe Wedding Singer, the actor has no shortage of entertaining comedies in his filmography, along with newer releases likeUncut Gems, which may have reinvented Sandler’s image as a more serious actor. However, Anderson always knew that Sandler had that fire in him thanks to one specific performance that the director said he would never forget.RELATED:Adam Sandler Says Singing About Chris Farley Makes Him EmotionalThe director recounts something amazing happened in Sandler’s performance as Brian, the host ofThe Denise Showwhose girlfriend broke up with him, as a part of the 1999Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam SandlerDVD. At a certain point in the bit, Brian’s father calls and scolds him for being an embarrassment to the family, and it is at this moment Sandler goes into a “fit of rage.” Sandler takes the performance to an emotional level that may have been past the point of what was necessary, but in the best way possible.
Anderson describes witnessing the whites in Sandler’s eyes go pitch black, as if they appeared to roll back into his head. The director further suggests that Sandler was so engulfed by theSaturday Night Live performancethat he did not notice the audience reciprocating his performance with laughing and clapping until a few seconds later when he “snaps back to reality.” Because of this clip, Anderson knew he “needed to write something for Adam,” which ended up beingPunch-Drunk Love.
Sandler’s performance inThe Denise Showproves how much range the actor has, as he is able to switch and adapt very quickly to different situations. A lot of that talent can be displayed in his films like50 First Dates,Punch-Drunk Love,Uncut Gems, and anotherupcoming Sandler film with the Safdie Brothers.
For those looking to watch theSaturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandlerspecial, it is not available on any streaming service, but it can be found quite easily on Amazon for a cheap price. However, there are plenty ofSandler Netflix original moviesfor those wanting to see the actor’s more recent work.
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