He Got Game

He Got Game

82% Liked It
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He Got Game

Denzel Washington, Hill Harper, John Turturro, Milla Jovovich, Ned Beatty, Ray Allen, Rosario Dawson

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

Id: 10907425

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Recent Reviews


  • 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 29, 2009
    i saw this movie when it first came out... its rated R?... I WAS 8 lol
  • 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.

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