Review of He Got Game (1998) by Spangle — 29 Jul 2016

He Got Game is an alright to pretty good film. Denzel Washington is at his best as a convict who has to convince his son to go to the governor's favorite school in order to get out of jail early. Ray Allen also turns in a shockingly good performance in Spike Lee's film that is very interesting.

It is a very compelling look at the real life issues recruits face and what gifts they are tempted with in order to go to certain schools. That said, the film does have a few problems that are quite major.

First off, it is too long. At nearly two hours and twenty minutes, He Got Game overstays its welcome by a little bit. The story is over-the-top and Lee's flair for theatrics is ever present here and he can never help himself but indulge in sillier and sillier plot points (really, the premise is a bit far fetched to begin with).

Additionally, character motivations are deeply unclear, namely Ray Allen's. Things occur unnaturally and is a very movie type of way, in that they occur because they have to in order for Lee to try and make a point and for the plot to move along.

Though the film can be quite interesting and is an enjoyable experience, He Got Game is a cheesy sports movie with a father-son element that occurs very unnaturally.