Pressures and Conflict

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2002)

Well known for his style and method of story telling, Spike Lee directed another great movie, He Got Game, a creative and different way to tell a story. The story is about the pressures and influences placed on Jesus, a high school basketball player, by agents, coaches, family, and friends due to his impressive on- court abilities that lead him on a path of self-evaluation relative to others. His father, Denzel Washington, has been allowed a week from prison to convince his son, played by Ray Allen, to attend `Big State,' in order for his sentence to be reduced. Despite controversy and many worldly temptations, Jesus, a character of good virtue, stays true to his sister, his family, and most importantly, his father. The choppy editing creates a disturbing feeling throughout, and the two hours and fifteen minutes seems to drag at times. Overall, though, the film is original, well done, and remarkable; it does not leave you with any new aspects on life or with any visions of changing the world, but it is worth seeing because you could learn a little something about forgiveness.