He Got Game

Rating:
Summary: Moving father / son story set to basketball
Review: Spike Lee's film contribution of 1998 marks his greatest graduation as a filmmaker since "Malcolm X". "He Got Game" documents the story of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the top high school basketball player in the U.S. who is receiving incentives one way or the other, to attend someone's university. Jesus' father Jake - in prison for accidentally killing his mother - is offered an early parole in exchange for Jesus' enrollment at the governor's alma mater. Jake has one week to convince his son, who wants nothing to do with him. This film is really not about basketball, it is instead, a tale of a father seeking the forgiveness & respect of his son. Lee makes good documentation of the cutthroat world of professional sports recruiting. Washington, as always, delivers a touching performance. Whether asking his son for forgiveness, or giving his wife's tombstone an embrace, Washington portrays a flawed man in deep need to heal his family.

Lee had no need to cast an NBA player, but cast Ray Allen anyway, who does a fine job. The music, a mix of Public Enemy and Aaron Copeland, is an odd combination that Lee puts to effective use. This film introduced Lee's slower pacing of storytelling, which he would continue to do with "Summer Of Sam", and it works quite well.

Rating:
Summary: He Got Game
Review: He Got Game, the surprisingly well acted and extremely entertaining film by Spike Lee starring Denzel Washington and basketball star Ray Allen takes an interesting look at "the next Coney Island basketball prodigy. This movie depicts high school basketball star Jesus, (the SuperSonic's Ray Allen) and his hectic life leading up to his big decision: College or NBA? and if college, which one. It shows how he is pressured by agents, friends, and anyone else who can pressure him, and looks at advantages and disadvantages of both scenarios, the NBA and going to college. Denzel Washington plays Jesus's father, who is in prison for the manslaughter of his mother. Jesus acts as if he does not exist and hopes never to see him again. However, when the governor hears that an inmate in his system's son is the nation's top high school basketball star, he gives him a bargain; he will allow his father out of prison for a short period to try to convince Jesus to commit to his Alma Mator, The Big State University. If Jesus is willing to attend, his father will be paroled. This film also provides an indepth look at life in the inner city and high school, also the current issue of over publicizing high school sports and exposing kids to early. This movie will be particularly enjoyable if your are a basketball fan but is very good no matter what. This moving film provides an indepth look at a father trying to make a last appeal to a son, a struggling family, (Jesus and his sister) a struggling city, and a different perspective into the life of a high schooler.

Rating:
Summary: Denzel and Allen Great...
Review: Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) is the top high school prospect in the country. His father, Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is in jail for accidently killing his wife. THe govenor has promised Jake that if he can convince his son to play for his alma mater that he will cut his prison time signifigantly. Jesus has never forgiven his father and has hatred toward him. There is tons of symbolism in this movie. Ray Allen had a great debut, especially for a basketball player! He really did a great job, and Denzel also gave a great performance as usual. Go see this movie it is very moving and is my personal favorite of all time.

Rating:
Summary: Ray Allen who has the lead:great b-ball-player but bad actor
Review: This movie probably could've been at least a little good if SPIKE LEE hadn't casted the NBA-player RAY ALLEN, he joins Dennis Rodman, Shaquille O'Neal & Rick Fox (who also is in the movie) in the list of BASKETBALL-PLAYERS who makes movies but can't act.

Denzel does good work in the film YES but it takes more to make a good movie than one or two people in it who knows how to act (Hill Harper is the second one).

Not a very moving story mainly becouse RAY ALLEN's and MILLA JOVOVIC's horrible acting.

If you thought that rappers were bad actors, they are nothing against b-ball players.

Any SPIKE LEE-movie is better than this one so skip it.

Rating:
Summary: Denzel Washington is Amazing
Review: This is a terrific movie, despite the fact that Spike Lee lost his way in the meandering plot; the ending doesn't make much sense. And of course, there's a bit of misogny in the portrayal of women. However, Ray Allen is wonderful as Jesus Shuttlesworth and Rick Fox is a tasty treat. I would love to see him in other movies.

Denzel Washington is a REVELATION. Of course I've admired his work for years because he's so handsome. But I haven't appreciated his acting ability (aside from his performance in Glory) in quite some time. This performance is nuanced and subtle and complex and brilliant. He's humble and arrogant, noble and low-life, all in one character. It reminds me of his role in Mississippi Masala.

If you love NBA basketball, this a great movie to watch.

Rating:
Summary: He Got Game
Review: He Got Game, the surprisingly well acted and extremely entertaining film by Spike Lee starring Denzel Washington and basketball star Ray Allen takes an interesting look at "the next Coney Island basketball prodigy. This movie depicts high school basketball star Jesus, (the SuperSonic's Ray Allen) and his hectic life leading up to his big decision: College or NBA? and if college, which one. It shows how he is pressured by agents, friends, and anyone else who can pressure him, and looks at advantages and disadvantages of both scenarios, the NBA and going to college. Denzel Washington plays Jesus's father, who is in prison for the manslaughter of his mother. Jesus acts as if he does not exist and hopes never to see him again. However, when the governor hears that an inmate in his system's son is the nation's top high school basketball star, he gives him a bargain; he will allow his father out of prison for a short period to try to convince Jesus to commit to his Alma Mator, The Big State University. If Jesus is willing to attend, his father will be paroled. This film also provides an indepth look at life in the inner city and high school, also the current issue of over publicizing high school sports and exposing kids to early. This movie will be particularly enjoyable if your are a basketball fan but is very good no matter what. This moving film provides an indepth look at a father trying to make a last appeal to a son, a struggling family, (Jesus and his sister) a struggling city, and a different perspective into the life of a high schooler.

Rating:
Summary: Moving father / son story set to basketball
Review: Spike Lee's film contribution of 1998 marks his greatest graduation as a filmmaker since "Malcolm X". "He Got Game" documents the story of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the top high school basketball player in the U.S. who is receiving incentives one way or the other, to attend someone's university. Jesus' father Jake - in prison for accidentally killing his mother - is offered an early parole in exchange for Jesus' enrollment at the governor's alma mater. Jake has one week to convince his son, who wants nothing to do with him. This film is really not about basketball, it is instead, a tale of a father seeking the forgiveness & respect of his son. Lee makes good documentation of the cutthroat world of professional sports recruiting. Washington, as always, delivers a touching performance. Whether asking his son for forgiveness, or giving his wife's tombstone an embrace, Washington portrays a flawed man in deep need to heal his family.

Lee had no need to cast an NBA player, but cast Ray Allen anyway, who does a fine job. The music, a mix of Public Enemy and Aaron Copeland, is an odd combination that Lee puts to effective use. This film introduced Lee's slower pacing of storytelling, which he would continue to do with "Summer Of Sam", and it works quite well.

Rating:
Summary: Ray Allen who has the lead:great b-ball-player but bad actor
Review: This movie probably could've been at least a little good if SPIKE LEE hadn't casted the NBA-player RAY ALLEN, he joins Dennis Rodman, Shaquille O'Neal & Rick Fox (who also is in the movie) in the list of BASKETBALL-PLAYERS who makes movies but can't act.

Denzel does good work in the film YES but it takes more to make a good movie than one or two people in it who knows how to act (Hill Harper is the second one).

Not a very moving story mainly becouse RAY ALLEN's and MILLA JOVOVIC's horrible acting.

If you thought that rappers were bad actors, they are nothing against b-ball players.

Any SPIKE LEE-movie is better than this one so skip it.

Rating:
Summary: Best from Spike Lee ever!
Review: To me, this movie was and still my all-time favorite movie dealing with Basketball.The Plot was superb. Denzel acting chops were on point in this or any movie he has been in. Ray Allen was amazing in acting debut.I give it two thumb or ten toes up!!!
Go cop that DVD!

Rating:
Summary: Touching father and son story
Review: I didn't pay attention to "He Got Game" when it first came out, since I'm not a big basketball fan. Boy was I pleasantly surprised when I did see it.

I think it's one of Spike Lee's best movies. "He Got Game" covers lots of issues: interracial dating, black stereotypes, the college athlete, corruption in college athletics, the politics behind sports, the incarceration of Black men, and most of all, a father trying to make amends with his son.

"He Got Game" is loaded with symbolism, each time you see it, you will pick up something new (the kids names: "Mary" and "Jesus"; the last basketball shot, etc.).

Most of all, I recommend this movie to you because I find it touching, and felt emotions that I certainly did not expect from a Spike Lee movie. My suggestion: see it for Father's Day!