He Got Game

1998 • 136 minutes

About this movie

Academy Award(R)-winner Denzel Washington stars in this must-see story about a convict given one shot at a second chance to be a father! With promises of a reduced sentence, Jake Shuttlesworth (Washington) is granted temporary release from state prison in order to persuade the nation's top basketball recruit ... his estranged son, Jesus (NBA basketball star, Ray Allen), to play ball for the governor's alma mater! But just as Jesus faces intense pressures and irresistible temptations contemplating his big decision, Jake is also forced to consider not only what's best for himself ... but what's best for his son! With a groundbreaking soundtrack by the legendary Public Enemy -- plus great cameos from John Turturro and basketball personalities Dick Vitale, John Thompson, Dean Smith, and more, HE GOT GAME is a critically acclaimed hit you don't want to miss!

Ratings and reviews

Found the ending confusing. Is the cop going to kill Denzel, because the governor wanted to be sure the trade would never be found out? The son went to the school the governor chose, so why? I find this hugely annoying, and one that makes the story overly contrived. The over one week plot point is really cheesy. Still bothers me. Makes it amateurishly plotted! I guess they kill him, so no one can get to the governor. The son can talk.

I was disappointed with He Got Game. The plot was predictable, and the characters felt a bit one-dimensional. While the basketball scenes were well-done, the overall message of the film was a bit heavy-handed. It's a missed opportunity for a more nuanced exploration of the father-son relationship

He Got Game is a great sports drama with a great performance by Denzel Washington. It's a great movie to watch if you're interested in basketball or coming-of-age stories.