He Got Game
A father's freedom depends on his son's choice.
With promises of a reduced sentence, Jake Shuttlesworth (Washington) is granted temporary release from state prison in order to persuade the nation's top college basketball recruit...his estranged son Jesus...to play ball for the Governor's alma mater! But just as Jesus faces intense pressures and irresistible temptations contemplating his bid decision, Jake is also forced to consider not only what's best for himself...but what's best for his son.
Member Reviews
Excellent - nobbymcdobby
I like this movie. Denzel is awesome. Way better than in that POS he won the Oscar for. I think basketball is stupid but I still thought this movie rocked. Spike Lee is very good director. I like his movies very much, this is probably one of his best. Good story. I was sad at the end.Spike Lee's Ode To Basketball - Gregg
The story of a high school basketball star from Coney Island named Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen an NBA All-Star) who has just a few days left to decide which of the many schools which have offered him scholarships will he attend. This will be the biggest decision in his life or so everyone has told him and everyone wants to offer their own advice and most want to get a piece of the action. There is his girlfriend Lala (Rosario Dawson), his uncle (Bill Nunn), his high school coach and a local gangster to name a few. To complicate the matter further his father Jake (Denzel Washington) is released from prison for a few days to try and persuade his son to attend the alma mater of the state governor and secure him an early release.
Essentially this is a story about basketball a subject which writer and director Spike Lee a subject which he is very much enamored of, and this shows especially in the basketball montages done to the music of Aaron Copland. It is also a father/son story and these are probably the most effective scenes, unfortunately I think Lee tried to encompass to much with this film and when it gets away from these very strong aspects it makes the whole less effective. There are some very clichéd scenes and stereotyped characters that are really not that necessary to the story, but Lee is obviously trying to make some statements thought they really do more harm than good overall.
Denzel Washington is not surprisingly very good as is somewhat surprisingly Milla Jovovitch playing a prostitute, much has been made of the performance by Ray Allen but I didn’t find it stood out in any way. This is not Lee’s best but it is still quite good especially if you have an affinity for his previous work or an interest in basketball.
The film also stars; Jim Brown, John Turturro, Ned Beatty and a host of former basketball stars in cameo roles.He Got Game - RogerDaniels
More than just a film about Basketball, Spike Lee's "He Got Game" is an expansive film exploring the connection between the African American community and the game. It's a story of a father and son, and the father's attempts at reconciliation with his estranged children. Denzel Washington's performance holds the film together, allowing for Lee to indulge in his nonlinear storytelling and examination of socio-poltical implications of basketball. Spike Lee's films are very heavy-handed, "He Got Game" not exception, but it's a solid film and one that can be thoroughly enjoyed without an immense love for the game.
Member Reviews
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Excellent - nobbymcdobby
I like this movie. Denzel is awesome. Way better than in that POS he won the Oscar for. I think basketball is stupid but I still thought this movie rocked. Spike Lee is very good director. I like his movies very much, this is probably one of his best. Good ...Spike Lee's Ode To Basketball - Gregg
The story of a high school basketball star from Coney Island named Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen an NBA All-Star) who has just a few days left to decide which of the many schools which have offered him scholarships will he attend. This will be the biggest ...He Got Game - RogerDaniels
More than just a film about Basketball, Spike Lee's "He Got Game" is an expansive film exploring the connection between the African American community and the game. It's a story of a father and son, and the father's attempts at reconciliation with his estranged ...