Search - He Got Game on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Profanity Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 11/10/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 16 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Total Copies: 1 Genres: Drama, Sports Drama, Urban Drama

Denzel Washington and writer-director Spike Lee team for the third time with this contemporary basketball drama focusing on a promising athlete, the son of a convict-father. Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) has been in prison for six years when tough prison-warden Wyatt (Ned Beatty) tells him that he's getting a temporary parole with the promise of a commuted sentence. However, there's a trade-off -- Jake must talk his son, Jesus Shuttlesworth (NBA star Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks), the top-ranked high-school basketball player in the country, into signing with the governor's alma mater, Big State. A flashback makes it clear that Jesus' mother (Lonette McKee was accidentally killed by Jake during a violent family fight. After Jake went to prison, the resentful Jesus was left alone to raise his sister Mary (Zelda Harris). Now several colleges are offering Jesus scholarships, and montages satirize the manner in which young athletes are wooed by educators and coaches across the country. However, Jake will soon be back behind bars if he can't get Jesus to sign with Big State within the week. Meanwhile, the greed of other family members begins to surface. John Turturro is seen in a cameo as Coach Billy Sunday, and several real-life coaches can also be spotted in this movie. Music by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) with songs by Public Enemy. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Denzel Washington - Jake Shuttlesworth
Ray Allen - Jesus Shuttlesworth
Milla Jovovich - Dakota Burns
Rosario Dawson - Lala Bonilla
Hill Harper - Coleman (Bogger) Sykes

Spike Lee's tale of basketball and fathers and sons, He Got Game, comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There are no subtitles, but the soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. This is a bare-bones release from Disney/Buena Vista, but it does offer strong picture and excellent sound quality. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide