He Got Game

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!

Spike Lee, like The-Man-Dumb-Enough-to-marry-Madonna (er Guy Ritchie), and Kevin Smith, had one good beginning movie (Do The Right Thing for Lee) which, though far from a masterpiece, showed excellent promise. And like his aforementioned overrated peers (with Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Clerks, respectively), he has spent the rest of his sad career trying recapture this lightning in a bottle, in the form of worse and worse rehashes of old characters from the previous films, and preaching his political/social theory-- like the message of this film, which is "money makes evil". Insightful, dummy.

This is Lee's homage to uptown basketball, where (GASP!) there is corruption afoot. Wow. Thanks for the info, Captain obvious. Tell me, is alcoholism bad too?

Denzel Washington pulls off the "misunderstood angry black man" role he does in every film written for him (to see him not rely on this and actually show chops, see The Hunt For Red October or Fallen), and Ray Allen proves for the umpteenth time why sports stars/ musicians should not act, especially those who can't read. Honestly, Lee couldn't find an actor with chops to read this role, instead of mumbling like a fool like Allen does?

Lee interjects the film with countless shots of women naked, trying desperately to deflect your view from the crappy script and shoddy character development. It doesn't even work the first time, which is sad, considering he hires porn stars. Poor Spike. he had such promise. Then again, I'm sure Joel Schumacher did once too.

If you liked this movie, chances are you probably believe in vast conspiracies involving everyone but you. This movie's about as well put together as an NBA basketball game.

Everytime I watch this movie...i Love it even more...and every time I watch it I find new things i didnt' even see before, new symbolism and special ideas...the ending scene throws me off everytime..i love it!

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.

While I'll admit Spike Lee is a talented film maker, I can't help but feel many of his films (including his more recent ones) are just too long and draw their morals out almost to an excruciating point.

This movie, while considered by many to be one of his best, doesn't stand out so. The whole idea of C.R.E.A.M. and choosing a decent life over a famed one is very thoroughly discussed, so much to the point that you have to feel guilty eating at a McDonald's. The conflict between Denzel's character and his son goes on forever and doesn't seem intending to resolve itself any time soon...in fact, like most Spike Lee films, the characters get involved not with each other but with sub-plots and minor characters that do nothing to advance the story. Milla Jovovich can't act, and her character doesn't do much except whine and get naked. In fact, sex seems to be what carries this film, as Spike Lee throws sex in every thirty minutes as if to keep the audience awake when the pacing turns dull. Well...that technique doesn't ALWAYS work...

This had potential, but deliver it does not.