Adam Sandler made a lasting impression on Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread. Anderson recounts a specific performance of Sandler that made him realize the actor had great comedic talents as a performer.Audiences understand the appeal of Sandler, a comedic actor who rose to fame in the mid-90s. From classics like Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, and The Wedding Singer, the actor has no shortage of entertaining comedies in his filmography, along with newer releases like Uncut 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.The director recounts something amazing happened in Sandler's performance as Brian, the host of The Denise Show whose girlfriend broke up with him, as a part of the 1999 Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler DVD. 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 the Saturday Night Live performance that 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 being Punch-Drunk Love.
Sandler's performance in The Denise Show proves 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 like 50 First Dates, Punch-Drunk Love, Uncut Gems, and another upcoming Sandler film with the Safdie Brothers.
For those looking to watch the Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler special, 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 of Sandler Netflix original movies for those wanting to see the actor's more recent work.
Source: Discussing Film