Powerful filmmaking from the always worthwhile Spike Lee

Rating: Null/10 (2 February 1999)

Spike Lee's love letter to the game of basketball goes above and beyond the modest expectations one might have about a film with a popular sport at its core. An exegesis on a painful, nearly unbearable father/son relationship, He Got Game is one of Lee's best features since his masterful Do the Right Thing. Critics seemed to endlessly harp on the ham-handed, borderline obnoxious religious symbolism, but I admire and love Spike Lee for daring to attempt something so risky and bold. The juxtaposition of Aaron Copland and Public Enemy played brilliantly as sweeping accompaniment to the thrilling, skillful interplay on the court and as commentary on America itself. Denzel Washington provides another incredible performance, and newcomer (and real-life NBA player) Ray Allen holds his own.