He Got Game | | Cast : | Denzel Washington, Milla Jovovich | | Director : | Spike Lee | | Studio : | Touchstone Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | May 01, 1998 | | DVD Released Date : | September 02, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 16, 2005 | | Summary | Spike Lee at the top of his Game | Content
 | I am an admitted admirer of Spike Lee films. I've been watching his movies consistently over the last 15 years. I watched this film again after having seen it in 1998, and it struck an even deeper cord seeing it the second time around. First off, the photography is absolutely beautiful. You simply won't be able to take your eyes off any scene in this film. The story is so interesting because we all know about Spike Lee's obsession with basketball, and it is something of wonder to see this story come out of that. Ray Allen and Rosario Dawson give us fabulous performances. Many of the actors in this film, including Denzel Washington, are regulars in Spike Lee films, and it is a tremendous treat to see them perform with such dedication and passion. The inclusion of Public Enemy's distinctly New York sound on the film's soundtrack definitely helped Spike Lee score a 3-pointer from center court. I've always felt intense emotions watching Spike Lee films, but this is the first one that really made me cry buckets of tears. A brilliant film and a definite MUST SEE. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 16, 2005 | | Summary | One of the best basketball dramas | Content
| After producing mediocre stuff like Crooklyn and Bamboozled in the mid-1990s, Spike Lee rebounded strongly in 1998 with He Got Game. This was easily Lee's best film since Malcolm X in 1992.
At first, moviegoers may be inclined to think that He Got Game will be little more than a slam-dunk fest that will showcase the athletic talent of its lead actor, Ray Allen (one of the NBA's premier players). Truth be told, however, He Got Game is more a sentimental drama than a sports movie, and the film focuses primarily on the behind-the-scenes pressures, temptations, and betrayals that often confront athletes as they are recruited by major universities or establish their professional careers. Spike Lee does a nice job of poignantly depicting the complex issues of money, sex, groupies, and greedy agents who prey on aspiring young athletes.
Although not a professional actor, Ray Allen does a splendid job in his role as Jesus Shuttlesworth - a high school senior who is faced with the difficult, high-pressure decision of which college he will attend the following fall. Denzell Washington delievers a spectacular performance as always, this time playing Jesus's father (Jake Shuttlesworth) who is serving a prison sentence for involunarity killing his wife. His mother's accidental death fuels Jesus's intense hatred for his father, but now his father is under pressure from the state governor to persuade Jesus to play basketball for the governor's alma mater. If Jesus agrees to do so, the governor has agreed to commute Jake's sentence. The beautiful Rosario Dawson is quite convincing as Jesus's gold-digging girlfriend with ulterior motives.
Fans of Spike Lee's films will notice several of Spike's regulars returning in cameo appearances in He Got Game, including John Turturro, Lonetta McKee, and Bill Nunn. Basketball personalities such as Dick Vitale, John Thompson, and Rick Fox also appear in the film, adding a sense of realism to the plot.
Much more than a simple basketball film, He Got Game tackles issues of race, class, exploitation, and family relationships. Interestingly enough, Spike Lee employs much more sex in this film than he usually does - porn star Heather Hunter appears in a cameo and Rosario Dawson delivers a sex scene of her own. The most graphic sex scene involves a menage-a-trois between Jesus and two blonde groupies during a recruiting visit to a prospective college.
Ultimately, Jesus discovers that the man he hates most is the cares most for him. Jake does not exploit his son, nor does he manipulate Jesus for personal gain.
He Got Game is a sentimental drama that should appeal to any sports fan, and the acting is complemented by a great soundtrack. Unfortunately, the DVD lacks extras - only a theatrical trailer is provided. An interview with the director or Ray Allen (discussing real-life experiences with the issues dealt with in the film) would have been a great addition. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 19, 2005 | | Summary | He Got Game | Content
| Spike Lee proves once again that he is a very talented director, and Denzel Washington delivers one of his greatest performances of all time. Ray Allen is not a great actor, but Denzel proves that he can carry any cast on his shoulders. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 20, 2005 | | Summary | lover of basketball | Content
| this movie is awesome, i just saw it today, its one of my favorite basketball movies right up there with Above the Rim, Denzel is great in this one, Ray Allen is pretty good in his debut, the only part that bothers me is the end with the ball coming out of nowhere, but anyways, if you like basketball, go see this movie, its great |
| Rating | | | Date | March 23, 2005 | | Summary | Could have done away with one or two aspects | Content
| No offense to Spike Lee but this movie could have been better if Milla Jovovich wasn't in it and if Jesus didn't stupidly cheat on his girl with those 2 college floozies. Otherwise you have great performances from Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Rosario Dawson, and Hill Harper. In my opinion, it's the little things that make a big difference in movies sometimes and that's the case here. This movie truly shows that it had unfulfilled potential! |
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