On H List of Movie Reviews

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He Got Game (1998)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 8/13

8/13: Notwithstanding the fact that Spike Lee made so many awful films, He Got Misogyny is one of his better ones although I see too much Hoop Dreams in it.

Ray Allen is terrific in the lead role and, despite what everybody else says, is a natural actor. On the other hand, Denzel Washington is Denzel all the way through which is becoming old and repetitive.

There are a lot of rip-off scenes which is typical of Spike Lee for being the hack that he is. At least, he doesn't attempt to push the race card although it's interesting to notice how badly women are treated and how they are viewed as sexual objects (Spike's professed misogyny?).

Certainly, there's a good message, but Hoop Dreams is much more powerful. If the critics and viewers alike hated He Got Misogyny, it's because they became jealous of the sex scenes and the number of women (read that as "porn stars") the ballplayers were shagging. I think it was too much for a film, and I get the point already. The weakest subplot is the relationship between the father and the hooker. Eventually, without doubt, he'll be tested positive for at least five different types of sexually transmitted disease.

No matter how many times I've seen this movie, I'll never understand why Jesus signed the letter of intent. It would make more sense if he forsaked his father for the rest of his life considering he was hard on him while having killed his mother. Of course, everybody is taking advantage of Jesus, so it doesn't matter anyway.

All in all, He Got Misogyny isn't bad considering that I've kept an open mind despite initially hating it in 1998.

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