Denzel goes one-on-one with an NBA legend in this Spike Lee drama — and you can stream it for free right now

(L-R) Joseph Lyle Taylor, Denzel Washington and Jim Brown in "He Got Game" (1998) — (Image credit: Alamy)

The Tom's Guide Verdict: 'He Got Game'

Rating: 3/5 stars

Verdict: Spike Lee's sports doc about an elite basketball prospect (Ray Allen) and his father (Denzel Washington) delivers some incredible moments and is one of the best portrayals of basketball on screen. But, as often happens with Lee's movies, it's a bit too long. It's also a bit of a time capsule, for better and worse.

Where to watch: Stream "He Got Game" for free on Tubi

"He Got Game" is this week's entry in my year-long Denzel Watchathon, and it's the latest collaboration between the legendary actor and the equally iconic director. Before this movie, they had teamed up for two movies: "Mo Better Blues" and "Malcolm X." After this film, they'd go on to team up for two more: "Inside Man" and "Highest 2 Lowest." But this one holds a unique place in their partnership for a few reasons.

For starters, there's an argument to be made that Denzel Washington, who plays Jake Shuttlesworth, is portraying neither the main character nor the protagonist of this sports drama. The movie is just as much about Jake's son, Jesus, the top basketball prospect in the world, as it is about Jake. Along those lines, Jesus is played by Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen, by far the least experienced actor that Denzel would star alongside in a Spike Lee movie.

But the resulting movie is still a good one. It's perhaps one of the best portrayals of basketball on film. This is not just because of how it shines a light on the corrupt world of college basketball recruiting, but the actual basketball itself, particularly the climactic game of 1-on-1 between Jake and Jesus. Unfortunately, it also falls victim to some of Lee's faults as a filmmaker, which I'll dive into shortly.

'He Got Game' highlights the best and worst of Spike Lee

Let's start with the good about "He Got Game": Denzel is excellent. He plays an inmate at Attica Correctional Facility who is released for one week to convince his son Jesus to play college ball at Big State University, the alma mater of New York's (fictional) governor. It's a complex character; he's not a good person, per se, but the circumstances that get him imprisoned are partially bad luck. He has moral shortcomings, but he also deeply cares about the people close to him.

And, perhaps just as importantly, he got game. Denzel may not be Hall of Fame caliber, but he legitimately scores some buckets on Ray Allen. I don't know about you, but I couldn't score on Ray Allen. Not unless he gave me a free shot from the top of the arc and I got a little lucky.

For his part, Allen is also relatively good as Jesus. Could there have been a better choice? Maybe. Kobe Bryant was originally cast for the role but backed out after a brutal playoff loss so he could work on his game. I would have liked to have seen Rick Fox, who auditioned for the role and was ultimately cast as Chick Deagan, a supporting character in the film. But while Fox might be a better actor than Allen, he wouldn't be the better baller. So, arguably, Spike Lee got this one right.

Unfortunately, though, the movie is just too long. There's a B-plot about Jake meeting and developing a short relationship with a prostitute named Dakota (Milla Jovovich), and it's just unnecessary, even though I don't mind it in a vacuum. Lee also lingers on scenes longer than he needs to, something I've been critical of in past movies.

His portrayal of the women in this movie is also ... questionable. To call it outright poor would lack nuance; Jake's dead wife, Mary (Zelda Harris), is, at least, portrayed in a positive light. But many women in this movie are extortionists, cheaters, promiscuous, etc. Denzel even rips off a line at one point about how he's like Sampson and won't cut his hair; a woman is the villain in that biblical tale.

To be clear, it's not like the men are portrayed as saints in this movie either. Basically, everyone is flawed at best and totally corrupt at worst. But there's something more judgmental about how the movie treats its female characters than how it treats its male roles.

Verdict: "He Got Game" remains a must-watch, albeit a flawed one

He Got Game (1998) Trailer | Denzel Washington | Milla Jovovich - YouTube

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Despite its flaws, "He Got Game" is a must-watch. Denzel is worth the price of admission alone, but basketball fans will find another layer in this film to enjoy. Lee's filmmaking choices are, simply put, masterful at times. Throughout the movie, he switches between an Aaron Copland classical score and a Chuck D (of Public Enemy fame) soundtrack, and it's brilliant.

Plus, for free, there's essentially no excuse for not watching this movie, even with a runtime that goes beyond two hours. You may not come away having found your new favorite movie of all time, but I promise you won't regret the investment.

Stream "He Got Game" on Tubi now

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Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.