Style and strong performances

Rating: 8/10 (6 June 2000)

Lee's He Got Game displays similar gritty street imagery as his earlier Clockers. While not as captivating as the earlier movie, He Got Game, does elicit a raw sense of power and visual style which should please movie-goers. Those looking for a combination of fast breaking basketball sequences and slam dunk music video highlights will not find what they want in this film. While the movie does include a few basketball scenes, it focuses more on the human story of choice, responsibility, societal pressures, and heroism. He Got Game is a tough, human drama, flawed in some of the dialog, but with an outstanding performance from Denzel. Lee's in your face film-making once again shines through in this urban father-son relationship film.