He Got Game

(Buena Vista)

Convicted murderer Denzel Washington is given a week out of jail to try to persuade his high-school basketball-phenom son to attend the governor's alma mater, with the promise that Denzel will be released if he succeeds. If you strip away the gratuitous sex, unfunny recruitment scenes, well-intended but inappropriate Aaron Copland score, pointless NBA player cameos, and moralizing, stilted dialogue, you'll find Spike Lee has a compelling story to tell about a difficult character.