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IMDbPro

He Got Game

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
49K
YOUR RATING
Denzel Washington in He Got Game (1998)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:11
3 Videos
88 Photos
DramaSport
A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence.A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence.A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
49K
YOUR RATING
    • Spike Lee
    • Spike Lee
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Milla Jovovich
    • Ray Allen
    • Spike Lee
    • Spike Lee
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Milla Jovovich
    • Ray Allen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 143User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos3

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:11
    Watch Trailer
    He Got Game
    Clip 1:20
    Watch He Got Game
    He Got Game
    Clip 0:56
    Watch He Got Game

    Photos88

    Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Denzel Washington in He Got Game (1998)
    Milla Jovovich, Denzel Washington, and Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    Ray Allen in He Got Game (1998)
    He Got Game (1998)
    Ned Beatty in He Got Game (1998)
    Denzel Washington in He Got Game (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Denzel Washington
    Denzel Washington
    • Jake Shuttlesworth
    Milla Jovovich
    Milla Jovovich
    • Dakota Burns
    Ray Allen
    Ray Allen
    • Jesus Shuttlesworth
    Rosario Dawson
    Rosario Dawson
    • Lala Bonilla
    Hill Harper
    Hill Harper
    • Coleman 'Booger' Sykes
    Zelda Harris
    Zelda Harris
    • Mary Shuttlesworth
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Warden Wyatt
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Spivey
    Joseph Lyle Taylor
    Joseph Lyle Taylor
    • Crudup
    Bill Nunn
    Bill Nunn
    • Uncle Bubba
    Michele Shay
    • Aunt Sally
    Thomas Jefferson Byrd
    Thomas Jefferson Byrd
    • Sweetness
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    • Big Time Willie
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Coach Billy Sunday
    Lonette McKee
    Lonette McKee
    • Martha Shuttlesworth
    Arthur J. Nascarella
    Arthur J. Nascarella
    • Coach Cincotta
    Travis Best
    • Sip
    Walter McCarty
    • Mance
      • Spike Lee
      • Spike Lee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Spike Lee originally wanted Kobe Bryant to play the part of Jesus Shuttlesworth. While Kobe liked the script, and the idea of working with Spike, he had just finished his rookie year in the NBA (the 1996-97), and had shot several airballs in a brutal playoff loss by the Lakers to the Utah Jazz, and planned a workout program that would help him maintain his strength through the longer NBA seasons (a major adjustment, as Kobe went straight from high school to the pros). So he told Spike the summer of 1997 was too important to spend time making the film, and Spike promptly sought out Ray Allen, who quickly accepted the lead role.
    • Quotes

      Jesus Shuttlesworth: Basketball is like poetry in motion, cross the guy to the left, take him back to the right, he's fallin' back, then just J right in his face. Then you look at him and say, "What?"

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Object of My Affection/Paulie/Nightwatch/Suicide Kings/Wild Man Blues/Chinese Box (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      John Henry
      Performed by London Symphony Orchestra

      Aaron Copland, Conductor

      Written by Aaron Copland

      The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., Copyright Owner

      Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., Solo Publisher

      Courtesy of Sony Classical

    User reviews143

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Flawed but always interesting
    Jesus Shuttlesworth is the number one hope for college basketball and has offers from colleges and sports agents ringing non-stop. His father is in jail for the manslaughter of his wife but is allowed out by the Governor for 4 days with a promise of further leniency if he can convince his son to go to Big State University. However Jesus has never forgiven him and this pressure, on top of everything else, is the last thing he needs.

    I'm never too sure what I'm going to take away from this film each time I watch it, as it does tend to try and cover a lot of ground. Is the film about father/son relationship? Is it about the commercialisation of school sports? Or pressure on young athletes? It's hard to be sure and I'm not sure that Lee is totally sure either. As such it often leaves me searching for an adequate way to summarise what I just watched. Regardless I do feel that the film manages to cover a lot of bases well. The stuff about the sports system is well worked without ramming down your throat – the exaggeration (or is it?) of the characters and scenarios is good and makes for good satire of sorts.

    The central relationship between Jake and Jesus is also worked well through several key scenes throughout the film. It leaves questions open during the film and at the end, but I guess there aren't always answers for everything and that's the way it is. The dynamic between the two is good though and it makes for an interesting plot – even though it does often feel like a subplot behind the basketball stuff. Other bits of the film don't fare as well. The two romantic strands are not as good as they should be – certainly Jake's scenes with Dakota are less than inspiring.

    The cast are all pretty good. Allen does OK but occasionally looks out of his depth with the talented cast. The array of basketball players and associates all add colour whether as themselves or playing characters. Washington carries the majority of the film and shows his ability in a difficult role – he became the heart of the film for me even though I'm sure the intention was for that to be Jesus. Dawson plays well despite being eye candy for the majority, she does have better scenes near the end of the film. The support cast have a few Lee regulars including an amusing Turturro, a convincing Palagonia and a blink and you'll miss her Jennifer Esposito.

    Overall this is not a perfect film as it overstretches itself a little and doesn't manage to deal with everything as well as it could have done. Ironically the overstretching is also a plus point as, every time I watch it, it gives me something else to concentrate on. Not Lee's finest work but a good film about his other passion with plenty of other stuff thrown in behind it.
    helpful•14
    7
    • bob the moo
    • Jul 13, 2003

    FAQ2

    • What high school are the basketball scenes shot in?
    • Where is the Abraham Lincoln High School located?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1998 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Cabrini-Green Public Housing Projects, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 16 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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