Denzel Washington, Hill Harper, John Turturro

As a filmmaker and passionate fan of basketball, Spike Lee was the perfect director for this ambitious and heartfelt sports drama, which brought out the best in both Lee and his well-chosen cast. In h...( read more  read more... )is third film for Lee, Denzel Washington plays Jake Shuttlesworth, who is in prison for the manslaughter of his wife. His estranged son Jesus (well played by Milwaukee Bucks basketball player Ray Allen) is the nation's best high school basketball star, and Jake receives a compelling offer from the state's governor: If Jake can convince Jesus to sign a letter of intent to attend Big State University, the governor will reduce his sentence. Lee turns this back-room bargain into a fascinating examination of capitalism in college and professional sports, but the film also works as the moving story of a father's desperate attempt to regain his son's respect. Lee handles the basketball angle with an insider's awareness, and takes a few stylistic risks (including a memorable final image) that pay off with considerable emotional effect. He Got Game fully explores the visual poetry of basketball and the greed that fuels this particular vision of the American dream, but Lee never loses sight of the sport's inherent beauty, or the higher priorities of redemption and family that form the solid foundation of this exceptional film. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

82% liked it

38,549 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

58 critics

R, 136 min.

Directed by: Spike Lee

Release Date: May 1, 1998

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DVD Release Date: January 15, 2002

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Stats: 1,622 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,622)


  • July 11, 2009
    Spike at his best!
  • October 12, 2007
    This was fantastic, the casting was great and the performances solid...
  • August 20, 2007
    A few flaws but otherwise enjoyable movie, may be boring moments but only fleeting ones.
  • February 20, 2007
    pretty good but a little graphic for a sports movie about a high school kid
  • December 11, 2006
    A totally engagining and effective film. an awsome movie. Denzel Washington is brillant. Another remarkable performance. This film packs on power, intensity, passion and excellence.
  • November 3, 2009
    A MAN THE WAY YOU WANT TO COMPOSE YOUR CHILD FOR THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH
  • October 2, 2009
    No Ray Allen cant act but the movie was still worth wacthing.
  • August 28, 2009
    Takes His Court and Defends it too.
  • August 15, 2009
    I must say that Spike Lee did a great job in making this movie. Jake (Denzel Washington) plays a prisoner who is in jail for murdering his wife years ago. He is given a chance to get out of prison if he does one thing. He has to convince his son, Jesus (Ray Allen) to attend a cer...( read more)tain college. If he does that, Jake is a free man. Of course, it won't be easy because Jesus has to first forgive his dad for what he did to his mom before he can even think of going to a certain university in his dad's favor.
    Denzel Washington and Ray Allen both put on great performances to make this a great movie. The basketball sequences in the movie are exciting, but the drama in "He Got Game" is what makes the movie work so well. I recommend anybody to get "He Got Game." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I'm not as big on the movie now, but still good.
  • August 7, 2009
    seen it, and like it..but the first time i saw it was at the movies with this gross guy back in the day but the film itself was alright....

Critic Reviews


March 25, 2007
David Edelstein, Slate

[Lee] gets a charming performance from Allen, who, in his acting debut, occupies his pedestal with grace and diffidence. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

He Got Game is Lee's best film since Malcolm X. full review

View more He Got Game reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • holidaymell
    September 18, 2006
    Great movie about a kid who is pushed by his father to become the best basketball player he can!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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He Got Game Trivia


  • WHo star's as the father of phenom basketball player in the movie "He got game"?  Answer »
  • What NBA All-Star is a main character in the movie 'He Got Game'?  Answer »
  • Walter Ray Allen "Jesus Shuttlesworth" from Spike Lee's "He Got Game" was a professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks.  Answer »
  • In He got Game who plays jesus?  Answer »

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