He Got Game (1998)

80% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(41,869 ratings)

Denzel Washington and writer-director Spike Lee team for the third time with this contemporary basketball drama focusing on a promising athlete, the son of a convict-father. Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) has been in prison for six years when tough prison-warden Wyatt (Ned Beatty) tells him… More Denzel Washington and writer-director Spike Lee team for the third time with this contemporary basketball drama focusing on a promising athlete, the son of a convict-father. Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) has been in prison for six years when tough prison-warden Wyatt (Ned Beatty) tells him that he's getting a temporary parole with the promise of a commuted sentence. However, there's a trade-off -- Jake must talk his son, Jesus Shuttlesworth (NBA star Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks), the top-ranked high-school basketball player in the country, into signing with the governor's alma mater, Big State. A flashback makes it clear that Jesus' mother (Lonette McKee was accidentally killed by Jake during a violent family fight. After Jake went to prison, the resentful Jesus was left alone to raise his sister Mary (Zelda Harris). Now several colleges are offering Jesus scholarships, and montages satirize the manner in which young athletes are wooed by educators and coaches across the country. However, Jake will soon be back behind bars if he can't get Jesus to sign with Big State within the week. Meanwhile, the greed of other family members begins to surface. John Turturro is seen in a cameo as Coach Billy Sunday, and several real-life coaches can also be spotted in this movie. Music by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) with songs by Public Enemy. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 14 min.
Directed By: Spike Lee
Written By: Spike Lee
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 1, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Jan 15, 2002
Studio: Buena Vista Internationa

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
Lacking the moral indignation and militant politics of Lee's former work, this vibrantly colorful father-son melodrama is soft at the center, but it's one of the most accessible films Lee has made and Denzel Washington is terrific.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
At the end of Mr. Lee's movie, all you feel is the distraction of Mr. Lee's stylistic exhibitionism, without which, I concede, he might not be regarded as a genius in some quarters.
David Edelstein, Slate
[Lee] gets a charming performance from Allen, who, in his acting debut, occupies his pedestal with grace and diffidence.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
As usual, Lee tries many kinds of stylistic effects and uses wall-to-wall music (by Aaron Copland and Public Enemy); what's different this time is how personally driven the story feels.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Washington's Jake Shuttlesworth looks tough and hard, an odd but refreshing turn for an actor long associated with handsomely heroic roles.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
A two-hour air ball.
Jon Popick, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A long, boring, meandering, dog of a movie.
, Film4
Lee's attack on how big business is not only ruining the game he loves but also playing with people's lives is direct and brave, while his passion, insight and intelligence are evident and admirable.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though too long by a good half hour, Lee's latest film packs a genuine emotional punch.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Most scenes play too long, with a surplus of ideas, textures, tones and characters, and after 134 minutes it's clear Lee's problem with closure hasn't gone away.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Lee paints intimate characters who are about more than the game. Themes of integrity, honesty, loyalty and familial love are woven through the film resulting in a complex, thought-provoking human drama.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Shrewdly exposes the underbelly of college recruiting and the pressures exerted on talented high school basketball stars.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Flawed but powerful.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
It is a wonderful thing to watch two artists work so well together. I am speaking, in this case, of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
The hypocritical misogyny of He Got Game is a fundamental weakness that reviewers so far have been happy to downplay or even to dismiss.
Tom Meek, Film Threat
Lee should have drawn up a tighter game plan but just the same his hoops hoopla still has enough game (mostly in the form of Washington) to win over the audience.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
As brilliant and perplexing as the filmmaker himself.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Only a director as good as Spike Lee could make a coherent movie out of this messy, jejune set-up ...
Wade Major, Boxoffice Magazine
As much a technical achievement as a narrative one.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Graham J

Great visuals and performances though it falls short in the end, still a worthwhile minor work from Spike Lee.
E.J. B

Spike Lee is one of the very few filmmakers possessing the heart and soul of an auteur, but none of the self righteousness. He Got Game is a perfect example of the directors sensibilities. Most basketball movies tell coming of age stories against gritty backdrops that all lead up to… More
Spike Lee is one of the very few filmmakers possessing the heart and soul of an auteur, but none of the self righteousness. He Got Game is a perfect example of the directors sensibilities. Most basketball movies tell coming of age stories against gritty backdrops that all lead up to some big game. Lee's film is practically void of all such cliches. The central narrative does build around a father trying to reconnect with his son, but the narrative progresses in ways that most screenwriters or directors would be afraid to allow. The movie explores how everyone - agents, politicians, legal guardians, even girlfriends - scrambles to get a piece of the possible glory and money behind a rising high school basketball star. But it also maintains a central focus on the basketball star and how close he is to reaching his dreams. This allows for an interesting mix in tones, where the character's field of dreams mixes with the harsh reality of the sport as a commercial entity, filled with people who's only goal, like in all business, is to make money. At the heart of it all is Denzel Washington, a convicted murderer who happens to be this young star's father. He is let out on temporary parole to try and get his son to sign with a particular university basketball team. If he does, he might be released permanently. Regardless of the outcome, this allows the father to find some redemption in helping his son figure out his life. The end is anti-climactic, but beautifully executed, displaying Spike Lee at his artistic best.
Jason O

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 certain… More
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 certain 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.
Tim S

I love basketball and I think you all know how I feel about Denzel.
EightThirty .

Cool Drama ^_^
Dean M

This Spike Lee's drama is very good interesting about ethnic pride, urban survival, and the corruption of American sports.
danny d

pretty good but a little graphic for a sports movie about a high school kid
Al S

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.
Suneel J

A film that will satisfy any true basketball fan. Seeing Ray Allen star next to Denzel Washington is surreal at first, but they seem to have good chemistry. Denzel puts on one of his more strong performances as Jake Shuttlesworth and Ray Allen does a decent job for being an amateur… More
A film that will satisfy any true basketball fan. Seeing Ray Allen star next to Denzel Washington is surreal at first, but they seem to have good chemistry. Denzel puts on one of his more strong performances as Jake Shuttlesworth and Ray Allen does a decent job for being an amateur actor. The film is quite emotional and Spike Lee delivers well in the way the story is told. It shows some of the darker sides of how the NCAA operates and the prison system as well. A good film that is a nice change of pace from ordinary sports stories.
Lesley N

Jesus Shuttleworth, basketball talent, is trying to decide which college to go to, and everyone but everyone has a hidden agenda to help him choose, including his father, out of jail for a week in order to get him to sign for the state governors pet university. I really liked this… More
Jesus Shuttleworth, basketball talent, is trying to decide which college to go to, and everyone but everyone has a hidden agenda to help him choose, including his father, out of jail for a week in order to get him to sign for the state governors pet university. I really liked this film, the pace was good, and the balance was good and the complications of the relationship between Jesus and his father, Denzel Washington seemed real and didn't get brushed over by an quick-fix happy ending. Good soundtrack by Aaron Copeland and Public Enemy too (strange combination that strangely works).
Joseph E

Takes His Court and Defends it too.
Curt C

That was one hell of a three-pointer, I'll give him that.
Brian R

Spike Lee's "He Got Game" is an amotional picture that tells two stories. One it is about as Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington), a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife. Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by NBA star Ray Allen) is a top senior athelete with the… More
Spike Lee's "He Got Game" is an amotional picture that tells two stories. One it is about as Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington), a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife. Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by NBA star Ray Allen) is a top senior athelete with the advantage of playing professional, Jake is released on parole for a week by the state's governor in order to persuade his son to play for the governor's alma mater in exchange for a heavily-reduced prison sentence. Two it is about the shady traits and exploits the players go through. Examples would be...Job offers, a brand new car, $10,000 from coaches, even a couple of flirty female college students who greet the skeptical Jesus at a dorm room with their own techniques. In other words money is the be all and end all in the world of sports. Lee is a great filmmaker but this picture falls sort of short. Some scenes is a bit exaggerated and even slapstick comical to be taken seriously. The final game between father and son feels like a cop out and even the death of Jake's wife feels a little unbelivable. For what's worth it's a film I would recommend to film lovers. Weather you love basketball or not.
Wu C

One of Spike Lee's best. Right up there with 'Do the Right Thing' and '25th Hour'.
Sean L

A great movie that really showcases all of Spike Lee's talents, from the extremely high quality writing and acting to an interesting editing style and a good score. It goes without saying that Denzel is great, and the film is never boring. One of Spike's best.
Tom S

"Basketball is like poetry in motion." People laud Hoop Dreams, but this is the best movie about the greatest game. Love the Copland. Rodeo was made for a streetball game.