Adam Sandler and Timothée Chalamet stole the show at a star-studded Vanity Fair conversation at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles Saturday night, discussing movies, basketball, and their careers in a lively exchange.
Seated on the school’s basketball court, surrounded by USC cheerleaders, the two talked about first meeting in 2014 on Men, Women & Children — where Chalamet’s scenes were cut.
"I was at the [premiere] party at the Toronto Film Festival and I was bummed, and you gave me a nice little shoulder pat; man, it meant a lot," Chalamet told Sandler, recalling their bond grew around Uncut Gems.
Sandler noted Chalamet trailed the Uncut Gems crew, prompting Idina Menzel to joke, “Is he in the movie?”
The pair reminisced about basketball misadventures, with Sandler recalling, "You’re very good, awesome. I’m fine. We played these two kids, just out of nowhere they just so happened to be so good."
Chalamet laughed about photographers following them: "That was only when we were playing basketball and I called the paparazzi to come capture the moment."
The Wonka star praised Sandler’s nuanced performance in Punch-Drunk Love: "To actors... it’s one of the most important performances — impactful, deeply moving... You should have a golden man in your hand." Sandler discussed playing basketball with George Clooney on SNL: "He’s great. We played ball when he hosted SNL... He took the whole cast, I think he rented out a YMCA."
He also credited director Josh Safdie with empowering him to be "openly aspirational" in Marty Supreme. The night ended with a surprise two-on-two basketball game against fans — which Sandler and Chalamet lost.
