'He Got Game'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Logan Murdock head to Coney Island to check out the top-ranked basketball prospect in the country, Jesus Shuttlesworth, as they rewatch Spike Lee's sports drama 'He Got Game,' starring Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, and Rosario Dawson.
Cast
Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth
Ray Allen as Jesus Shuttlesworth
Rosario Dawson as Lala Bonilla
Milla Jovovich as Dakota Burns
Bill Nunn as Uncle Bubba
Rick Fox as Chick Deagan
Roger Guenveur Smith as Big Time Willie
Thomas Jefferson Byrd as Sweetness
Ned Beatty as Warden Wyatt
John Turturro as Coach Billy Sunday
Jim Brown as Spivey
Directed by: Spike Lee
Written by: Spike Lee
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“He Got Game is Spike Lee's best film since Malcolm X – since Do the Right Thing if we're talking about original screenplays.”
- Praised the film's ambition and Denzel's performance.
- Noted the film works as both a sports movie and a father-son drama.
- The opening scene of Denzel playing basketball on the prison yard with the Aaron Copland music.
- Jesus Shuttlesworth's dribbling montage through Coney Island.
- Ray Allen's performance – surprisingly natural and effective for an athlete-actor.
- The Public Enemy soundtrack, especially 'He Got Game'.
- The depiction of the corrupt college recruiting process.
- Public Enemy's 'He Got Game' – the title track that plays throughout.
- Aaron Copland's music juxtaposed against the urban setting.
- The slow-motion basketball montage at the beginning with Copland's music.
- Wide shots of Coney Island.
- The Milla Jovovich prostitute subplot – feels underdeveloped and disconnected.
- Some of the side character storylines don't get enough time.
- Some of the gender dynamics and treatment of female characters.
- The Dakota Burns subplot with Milla Jovovich.
- What if Spike Lee hadn't cast a real NBA player and used a traditional actor instead?
- Kobe Bryant was reportedly considered for the Jesus role.
John Turturro as Coach Billy Sunday – going full intensity in every scene.
- Bill Nunn as Uncle Bubba.
- Roger Guenveur Smith as Big Time Willie.
- Thomas Jefferson Byrd as Sweetness.
- Denzel Washington – coming off multiple hits and taking on this role.
- Spike Lee directing a basketball movie at the peak of his powers.
Modern remake: who plays Jesus Shuttlesworth today?
- Budget was $25 million, made $22.4 million at the box office – underperformed theatrically.
- Ray Allen had to learn to shoot left-handed for certain scenes.
- Ray Allen apex mountain – best athlete-to-actor performance in movie history.
- Spike Lee sports movie apex mountain.
- The timeline and logistics of the plot don't entirely make sense.
- Jake getting temporary release to recruit his son is a stretch.
- The college basketball recruiting world would make great prestige TV.
- Could expand the corrupt recruiting subplot into a full season.
Better with a tighter edit of the Milla Jovovich subplot.
Denzel deserved a nomination – one of his most underappreciated performances.
- The Jesus Shuttlesworth Lincoln High jersey.
- The Air Jordan XIII 'He Got Game' sneakers.
- The complicated nature of father-son relationships.
- The exploitation of young athletes by everyone around them.
Denzel Washington won the movie.
Craig Horlbeck.