He Got Game

He Got Game
Name	He Got Game
Director	Spike Lee
Producer	Spike Lee, Jon Kilik
Writer	Spike Lee
Starring	Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, John Turturro, Rosario Dawson
Music	Aaron Copland
Cinematography	Malik Hassan Sayeed
Editing	Barry Alexander Brown
Studio	40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Touchstone Pictures
Released	1998
Runtime	136 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$25 million
Gross	$21.6 million

He Got Game is a 1998 American sports drama film written, produced, and directed by Spike Lee. The film stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate who is temporarily released to persuade his son, Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by Ray Allen), a top-ranked high school basketball player, to attend Big State University, the governor's alma mater, in exchange for a reduced sentence. The film also features Milla Jovovich, John Turturro, and Rosario Dawson in supporting roles, and was produced in association with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks and Touchstone Pictures. The film's score was composed by Aaron Copland, and the cinematography was handled by Malik Hassan Sayeed, who had previously worked with Spike Lee on films such as Mo' Better Blues and Crooklyn.

Plot

The film's plot revolves around the complex relationship between Jake Shuttlesworth and his son Jesus Shuttlesworth, who is being recruited by several top colleges, including University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), and University of Kentucky. As Jake Shuttlesworth tries to persuade his son to attend Big State University, he must confront his own troubled past and the circumstances that led to his incarceration, including his involvement with Coney Island and the New York City basketball scene. The film also explores the themes of family, loyalty, and redemption, and features cameos from several notable figures, including Arthur Agee, William Gates, and Lute Olson. The film's narrative is also influenced by the works of William Shakespeare, particularly Hamlet, and features references to Aristotle and Plato.

Production

The production of the film was handled by Spike Lee and Jon Kilik, who had previously worked together on films such as Malcolm X and Clockers. The film was shot on location in New York City, Coney Island, and North Carolina, and features a mix of established actors and real-life basketball players, including Ray Allen, who was a rookie player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) at the time of the film's release. The film's script was written by Spike Lee, who drew inspiration from his own experiences growing up in Brooklyn and his love of basketball, which was influenced by players such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The film's production team also included Barry Alexander Brown, who handled the editing, and Wynn Thomas, who designed the production.

Cast

The cast of the film includes Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, Ray Allen as Jesus Shuttlesworth, Milla Jovovich as Dakota Burns, John Turturro as Coach Sunday, and Rosario Dawson as Lala Bonilla. The film also features cameos from several notable figures, including Arthur Agee, William Gates, and Lute Olson, as well as appearances by NBA players such as Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing. The cast's performances were influenced by the works of Marlon Brando, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Meryl Streep, and were shaped by the film's themes of family, loyalty, and redemption, which are reminiscent of the works of Tennessee Williams and August Wilson.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of Denzel Washington and Ray Allen, as well as the film's thought-provoking themes and social commentary, which were influenced by the works of James Baldwin and Ta-Nehisi Coates. The film holds a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from critics such as Roger Ebert and Owen Gleiberman, who praised the film's nuanced portrayal of the complexities of family relationships and the corrupting influence of power, which is reminiscent of the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The film was also nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, and was recognized by organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Film Institute (AFI).

Themes

The film explores several themes, including the complexities of family relationships, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle for redemption and forgiveness, which are influenced by the works of William Faulkner and Toni Morrison. The film also touches on issues of racism, classism, and social inequality, and features a nuanced portrayal of the experiences of African American men in contemporary society, which is reminiscent of the works of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. The film's themes are also influenced by the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre, and feature references to Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

Release

The film was released in 1998 by Touchstone Pictures and was distributed in association with Buena Vista Pictures. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was later released in theaters across the United States, where it grossed over $21 million at the box office, making it a moderate commercial success. The film was also released on DVD and VHS by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, and has since become a cult classic, influencing films such as Coach Carter and Glory Road, which were directed by Thomas Carter and James Gartner, respectively. The film's release was also influenced by the success of other sports dramas, such as Rudy and Hoosiers, which were directed by David Anspaugh and starred Sean Astin and Gene Hackman, respectively.

Category:American sports drama films