He Got Game
He Got Game
Tells the story of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the most sought after high school basketball prospect in the nation. Jesus and his dream to make it to the big ranks in professional basketball are overshadowed by his father, Jake, who is spending his life in prison for killing Jesus' mother.
Eric Bakke reviewedJune 5, 2025
Overall, He Got Game is a disappointment for a variety of reasons—many of which fall outside the scope of this review. However, one thing Spike Lee unquestionably got right was his bold and inspired use of Aaron Copland's music as the film’s score. Copland’s sweeping, quintessentially American compositions are employed with remarkable effectiveness, elevating key moments and imbuing the story with a sense of grandeur and emotional weight that the narrative alone often struggles to achieve. I've watched this film on multiple occasions simply because the music is so enticing.