Spike Lee does it again

Rating: 10/10 (5 February 1999)

Lee continues to show why he's one of the best filmmakers of the 90's with this film. It's also one of the best basketball films ever made, along with HOOP DREAMS and WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP. While Lee's passion for the game is evident, he also shows the pressures put on athletes from all sides; school, family, people who want to live through the athletes, people who think being an athlete automatically requires you to be a role model, groupies and other temptations, and, of course, money. Along with the basketball story, Lee also adds a nicely drawn and realistic father-son relationship. Washington is of course in excellent form, but the surprise here is NBA player (for Milwaukee?) Ray Allen, who not only handles the basketball scenes well, but is a convincing actor. The soundtrack was really good as well.