He Got Game (1998)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Spike Lee

Writer:

Spike Lee (written by)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The father, the son and the holy game.

Plot:

A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence.

Plot Keywords:

Jesus | Basketball | Prison | High School | University

Awards:

9 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Jake Shuttlesworth
Ray Allen	...	Jesus Shuttlesworth
Milla Jovovich	...	Dakota Burns
Rosario Dawson	...	Lala Bonilla
Hill Harper	...	Coleman 'Booger' Sykes
Zelda Harris	...	Mary Shuttlesworth
Ned Beatty	...	Warden Wyatt
Jim Brown	...	Spivey
Joseph Lyle Taylor	...	Crudup
Bill Nunn	...	Uncle Bubba
Michele Shay	...	Aunt Sally
Thomas Jefferson Byrd	...	Sweetness
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Big Time Willie
John Turturro	...	Coach Billy Sunday
Lonette McKee	...	Martha Shuttlesworth

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, strong sexuality, some drug content and violence.

Runtime:

136 min | Argentina:137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:S | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #35973) | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:12 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:12 (video premiere) | New Zealand:R16 | Peru:14 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Cabrini-Green Public Housing Projects, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Trivia:

Spike Lee's first film to open at #1 at the US box office.

Quotes:

Jake Shuttlesworth: [when the clerk sees his ankle monitor] It's arthritis, you know. I got that arthritis thing happenin'.
Sneaker Clerk: Yeah?
Jake Shuttlesworth: Yeah!
Sneaker Clerk: My brother's got the same arthritic condition
Jake Shuttlesworth: Really?
Sneaker Clerk: Only it's on his left ankle. It's goin' around here in Coney Island.
Jake Shuttlesworth: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's contagious!
Sneaker Clerk: Yeah!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Home Improvement: Taylor Got Game (#8.4)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Black Jesus

A Great Movie for Anyone Who Plays Ball at Any Level

I recently watched this movie for the first time, and as a 19 year old black male it spoke to me. However, I can see this being a film that everyone can appreciate. Especially now, with Lebron James and other upcoming HS athletes, you really see the other side of life that only they know.

This movie detailed the life of the #1 basketball star in HS, and the issues he deals with before he announces his plans for the future, further complicated by his father's contingent release from jail.

A GREAT movie, don't let the votes fool you, it's not a 6.5/10, more like 8.5.