There is no doubt that a lot of filmgoers, movie fans and just members of the general public would relish the chance to choke out Adam Sandler, in a comedic sense of course. Well, a lucky few were given just that opportunity during the filming of the upcoming A24 crime drama, Uncut Gems.
Adam Sandler divulged some of the details surrounding the accidental beating he received recently whilst on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
“These guys who were beating me up were really good guys but they didn’t ever do a movie before. So there was a stunt coordinator who would say like ‘You know, you don’t have to really choke at him.'”
The Uncut Gems trailer looks to be an intensely heated outing for Adam Sandler, so it is no wonder that that intensity bled into the performances from all involved, including the less experienced actors putting the boots to Sandler. Though the actor came away relatively unscathed from this latest Safdie brothers movie, it sounds like he unwillingly experienced some of the drama that his Uncut Gems character, Howard, goes through during the events of the film, even being violently choked out.
“I was like trying to tap out. I’m punching the roof and they’re like ‘Adam’s in character’ and I was like ‘No, I really am getting choked right now.'”
Confusing his apparent penchant for method acting with legitimate cries for help, the actors roughing up Sandler continued to assault him to the point of extreme discomfort. Though they were signalled to scale it back these went unheard and they continued to choke Sandler and rough him up to their heart’s content. Maybe they just really didn’t like Mr Deeds.
Sandler tells the story with a smile and a laugh, but considering he usually spends his filming in exotic locations making jokes with his pal Rob Schneider, this must have been a very different experience for the actor and will no doubt show on screen.
Uncut Gems has received an incredible critical response so far, with the film currently sitting at a deliciously fresh 94% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. Coming from acclaimed filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems has been described as an electrifying crime thriller and follows Adam Sandler’s character Howard Ratner, a charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score. When he makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime, Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
The reviews have highlighted Sandler’s performance as an absolute stand-out, cementing him as a fine dramatic actor when given the right material. Fans of Sandler will know that Uncut Gems is far from his first foray into the dramatic, with performances in the likes of Funny People and The Meyerowitz Stories just two wonderful examples of his flair for serious roles. At least it sounds like the choking was worth it. This ingterview comes from The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
