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We have entered into two of the year’s biggest seasons: basketball and awards, making this the perfect time to celebrate with a film that is connected to both. 2016’s most probable Best Actor nominee is Denzel Washington, for the upcoming Fences. In a world where there is no shortage of fantastic Denzel performances, why not revisit 1998’s He Got Game? He stars as Jake Shuttlesworth, a man facing a long prison sentence for killing his wife, who is released for one week to convince his son Jesus, played by Ray Allen, to attend Big State University instead of going directly to the NBA and making bank, as many in his life are pressuring him to do.
Written and directed by Spike Lee, He Got Game touches on more than just basketball and Denzel, although it is very much about those two things. He Got Game serves not just as another reminder of how damn good this guy is an actor, but how effective it can be to see him in a role that portrays a complicated father-son relationship. Are Jake and his intentions pure and good, or are we as viewers even bigger suckers than the characters are for rooting for Jake?
It should also be noted that this was Allen’s first acting role (of only two credits, the other being 2001’s Harvard Man), and he more than holds his own opposite the Oscar winner. He portrays the teen as sweet and charming (and occasionally pouty, a typical teen tendency), while remaining utterly confused and frustrated about making “the biggest decision of his life.” Some of this might be due to the fact that just a few years before shooting the film, Allen was in a very similar situation, choosing to blossom at Uconn for three years before entering the NBA. Having recently announced his retirement as a professional basketball player, one can’t help but wonder if he’ll dip his toe back into the acting world. Put him in a Just Wright-type movie or something! He might be stealing roles from Common, but Common seems to be doing just fine for himself these days.
It’s fair to say that it’s been some time since a Spike Lee joint hasn’t been utterly polarizing for audiences, and that’s not to say that this one is a swish at every turn. But He Got Game is a great example of what makes Lee a compelling filmmaker. With a supporting cast that includes Milla Jovovich as a prostitute, Rosario Dawson as the scheming teen love of Jesus, and Hill Harper as his cousin, He Got Game pushes forward with its messages of hope and working hard and pursuing dreams. When IRL basketball, or the world, for that matter, has got you down, He Got Game sneaks in just enough sweetness and inspiration in its reminder to never quit, and, you know, do the right thing.
