From The Rock

In the nineties, Spike Lee switched his game up, going from being “the black Woody Allen”, to really exploring his own personal style. Between Clockers and He Got Game, he began exploring some of the same territory as Martin Scorsese, creating these gritty, urban films with a real sense of danger and focused on issues of family. He Got Game is one of Lee’s all time must download movies.

The story follows a young man named Jesus, yes, Jesus, not Hey-Zeus, but Jesus, as in Jesus Christ. As his father explains “What’s wrong with Jesus? It’s a Biblical name.” “Yeah no &*$# dad!” Jesus is a basketball prodigy being pursued by, well, pretty much everyone. Every college wants him, and they stop at nothing to try and lure him to their respective schools.

His father is played by Denzel Washington, serving a stint in prison for involuntary manslaughter. During a domestic altercation some years ago, he accidentally killed Jesus’ mother, shoving her. She slipped and broke her neck. Jesus has never forgiven him for this, although his little sister has. These family issues come up again throughout the film.

The warden at the prison offers a deal: Let the father out for a little while to convince Jesus to join the warden’s alma mater, and they’ll see about reducing the sentence.

For Jesus’ father, this isn’t just to get a reduced sentence, it’s about redemption and forgiveness. He wants his son’s love. The reduced sentence is only a side effect of what his real intent is… Although Jesus doesn’t see it that way. However, what school Jesus attends will serve as a symbolic affirmation of his forgiveness for his father, or lack thereof.

The father also falls in love with a prostitute and tries to spend as much time as he can with her while they’re letting him walk the streets free. The son must maintain his righteousness, choosing a school for the right reasons no matter what sort of bribes and incentives they dangle in front of him like carrots on sticks. Money, sex, drugs, or his father’s love, are the prizes at stake. It’s a story of forgiveness and temptation for both of the leads.

The ending of the film is surreal, moving, and fitting. It defies all logic and laws of physics in order to give us a conclusion that is, while not entirely logical, is at least one of the most emotionally satisfying endings put to film.

The film is frightening and shocking at times, it’s moving, and it boasts a lot of emotional depth and truth. The film also carries some great music by Public Enemy, notably the title track, He Got Game. Since then, Spike Lee has reinvented himself again, creating more marketable, polished films. His newer movies are every bit as worthwhile as his previous work, but there’s a rawness, a realness to the era between Do the Right Thing and He Got Game that set him apart from all other filmmakers of his generation.

Movie Downloads Are Great For TravelingAre you tired of renting DVDs from the local video store? Movie Rental Company Many companies that offer at home movie DVDs give you instant access to movie downloads on their sties. Find Your Favorites With Movie DownloadsAre you one of those people who just can’t seem to get enough of movies?