He Got Game (1998)

Writer/Director/Producer Spike Lee does something exceptional in this film about basketball. He uses music like nothing else we've ever seen (and heard) before. Now, one would expect Lee's film about the game, which focuses on one promising high school player and his familial problems, to contain a lot of "rap" type music, and it does. Public Enemy provide several awesome songs here. But Lee goes outside to do something extraordinary. He scores most of the film, especially the sequences where the game is being played, with the classical, somewhat cacophonous, music of Aaron Copeland. It's a thrilling juxtaposition and it's like nothing we've really ever seen in film before.

This exciting combination of basketball and Copeland's hearty orchestrations begins the film in a credits sequence that immediately makes us sit up and take notice. It's quite possibly the best credits sequence I have ever seen. Lee sets us up for the style the film we'll see right here at the beginning. Not only do we see basketball being played in slow motion, but the film stops, in a way, for a moment here and there, to show us a "portrait" of these people who are playing ball. That is, a posed moment where they simply stand for the camera, as if they are posing for a portrait. It's Warholian moments like this that also add flavor to the film. And it's beautiful to witness. The music of Copeland makes all of these characters come to life without a single line of dialogue.

It's also interesting to note that the film begins with a single white teenage male shooting hoops in a country setting. When it ends, it's main character is on a large court experiencing a spiritual and hopeful moment.

The story revolves around Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen), a hot high school basketball player who may very well be the best player in years. Jesus is under enormous pressure to pick a college to attend. Everyone is on him - family, girlfriends, teammates, alumni - everyone. His father, who is in prison, is even released for a week to persuade him to attend the Governor's Alma matter.

Denzel Washington plays Jesus' father - and he is awesome. We can't help but like Washington from the beginning of the film. He seems quite normal and even-tempered. But as the film progresses, we see the deeper complexities of the man. We wonder if we can understand him. We wonder what truly drives him. It's a wonderful multi-faceted character and Washington eeks every nuance out of the man that is possible. He carries the film with no visible struggle whatsoever. He eases through the film like cream through a flute and colors the film with a precise and distinct feeling without ever seeming "cool" or "phony."

Lee's films the piece with wonderful use of different film qualities. At times the film is grainy, the color bleeding, at others, stark and very black. Lee edits the film in a way that allows the film to be linear as well as allowing for jumps in time and content. Often times during a scene he will jump cut quickly to the seeming still "portrait " like pose of a character. Or to an important element in the story from the past. Lee doesn't simply provide a straightforward story here but instead presents an awesome overwhelming view of the complete picture. Lee's film, and his script, find a way to tell us everything, sometimes even more than we want to know.

Lee fills the film with marvellous symbolism. The most obvious is the theme "basketball as freedom." The fact that this is grafted on to the plight of the African-American makes the message resound even more. But there is also religious symbolism. The character of Jesus is aptly named. (His sister is named Mary, by the way). This is because the film is about forgiveness. It's about a human's ability to change, to grow, to be worthy of forgiveness. Basketball is the flavor of the story because forgiveness ties in so well to freedom. What could be more freing than to be forgiven? And what does Jesus do but forgive? Lee sets the film in Coney Island and the attraction of the famous amusement park there is in the foreground of the film often. Many times, Lee shows us a shot of the Ferris wheel - the WONDER WHEEL - in the film, (a couple even copulate while on it). This is a film about the magic of life, the magic of human existence. And in the marvel that is human existence what can be more freing than forgiveness. It is the singular theme that Judeo- Christian religion is based upon.

Lee can make a mistake here and there. In an effort to show us more about Washington's character, Lee introduces a secondary character of a prostitute whom Washington becomes involved with. Sadly, this part is played by Milla Jovovich who is incapable of fitting into this film. Lee's intent may have merit but the execution here, in this segment, leaves a little to be desired. Also, Lee again explores the territory of drug use in African-American community, albeit briefly. Here, as in "Jungle Fever, where it is more fully explored, it doesn't seem to fit somehow (maybe because it recalls the earlier film).

"He Got Game" is a monumental film. It says so much about life, about families, about love, about forgiveness. And it does this in an enormously unusual and intriguing way. One of the greatest gifts the film gives is an appreciation of Copeland's remarkable music. It made me want to go out and buy the soundtrack immediately.

Note: Also with Rosario Dawson (Lala), Hill Harper (Booger), Zelda Harris (Mary), Jim Brown, Ned Beatty, Bill Nunn, John Turrturo. There are several cameos by college coaches, pro coaches, TV sportscasters and pro players. The latter include Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Reggie Miller and John Thompson. Earl Monroe, who appears in newsreel footage, is the Technical Advisor.

Cinematography by Malik Hassan Sayeed.

The music by Public Enemy features a song that sample Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" with new vocals by Stephen Stills. Another songs samples The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."

Review written in 1998

Report Card

Script: A-

Acting: A

Cinematography\Lighting: A+

Special Effects\Make Up: A+

Music: A+

Final Grade: A+