Spike
Lee's latest effort is an overly ambitious father-son drama that uses the world
of basketball as a backdrop. Denzel Washington plays the father, a man serving
a sentence for a terrible crime, who is given a chance for early parole, if he
can convince his basketball playing son to sign with Big State.
What's
completely apparent here is Lee's passion for the game. Anyone who watches the
Knicks play on a regular basis, know that Spike is one of their biggest fans.
The portions of the film that worked for me were the parts that dealt with the
game. Lee really captures the feeling of pressure that high school ball players
are under when trying to figure out what their next step will be. Especially when
they're as talented as Jesus, the main character in He Got Game. Constantly being
hounded and not knowing who your real friends are. These are only two of Jesus'
problems. His big problem is his time-serving father, whom he hasn't gotten along
with in years. This is where the well intentioned He Got Game falters.
When
Lee isn't dealing with the game, he takes us on a father-son journey that doesn't
always seem real. He Got Game also loses focus occasionally, slowing the pace
a bit. Still, it's hard not to recommend He Got Game. Even when he's not hitting
the mark, Spike Lee fills the screen with his passion. He's not only paved the
way for African American film makers but independent film makers as well. He also
manages to get another brilliant performance out of Denzel Washington. Lee and
Washington also worked together on what I think is Lee's finest work, Malcolm
X. NBA star Ray Allen does a good job as well, displaying the difficulties of
making career choices, and reconciling with a father he hardly knows. He Got Game
isn't Lee's best work but it's a worthy effort.
