Love & Basketball (2000)

I am definitely more of a movie fan than a basketball fan, thus I went in expecting a jock flick with a token relationship thrown in to justify the title. I could not have been more wrong. Unlike "He Got Game" (another very good film), which dwells solely on the negative aspects of the sport - hustlers, hookers, drugs and death, L&B concentrates on the positive things in life and basketball serves as the background rather than the focus. The story is very well written and works on several levels - it refuses to be pinned down as simply a romance or drama, choosing instead a careful blending of different elements. My only complaint - minor at that - would have to be the ending (and no I'm not going to tell you).First, how could I find fault with a film that actually does a great casting job with Tyra Banks? She has a small cameo role- she plays a beautiful stewardess, small stretch - with some great lines. Omar Epps brings his trademark cockiness to the role, and although it took me awhile to buy him as a basketball player -he's not exactly Goliath -he grows on you. More importantly, he exhibits and a depth and range that he's never shown before. Sanaa Lathan however, goes one step further, and demonstrates an intensity both on and off the court that puts her in a league all her own. Her performance can be summed up as superb. my all time favorite movie yall should make a sequal of this movie

It's 1981 L.A. 11 year old Monica Wright moves in next door to Quincy McCall in the suburbs. She surprises him with her basketball skills and he gives her a scar on the chin. Years later, Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are platonic best friends. While everybody roots for him following his former Clippers player father (Dennis Haysbert)'s footsteps, most dismiss Monica's ball dreams. Her short fuse doesn't help and she struggles in her game. Quincy's parents fight at home. The two friends find their way in their relationship.I don't mean to be sexist but this is a basketball romance from the female side. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood is able to bring a female sensibility which influences even the basketball action on the floor. It's a different lesser-seen side of a sports movie. Sanaa has a nice sincerity to her acting and Omar is his Omar Epps self. The sincerity in these characters carries the standard romantic plot. It is a sweet romance without going overboard.

This film was EXCELLENT !!!!!!!!!! I can't say a bad thing about it. It is one of my favourite films ever ! I have watched this film over and over again and I never get bored of it. These are the types of film that we need more of. The moral of the film was good. Even though it was a romantic film , it mixed the concept of basketball and romance together very well. I don't think any other actors could have played the characters as well as they did. That is why I couldn't do anything other than to give it a 10/10. And I am not a very easily pleased person. My favourite scene sex scene. I know that applys to many other people ( Don't worry I see you blushing)

"Love and Basketball" is one of the most feminist and non-stereotypical teen-through-20something movies I've ever seen. It's in effect a tribute to Title IX and the WBNA, casually showing a girl with basketball dreams, and how it affects her personal life and those around her. Highly recommended for teens! As good as Omar Epps was though, I thought he was a bit short to be believable as an NBA prospect.Except for one talky section of the movie towards the end where everyone pretty much says the obvious about their relationships, the rest of the character development is done visually and through situations and not one sports movie (or African-American) cliché. It is a date movie because both leads change. Stay through the credits to see a sweet shot at the end.I was girding for a hip hop soundtrack, but it's old school R & B all the way and lovely to listen to (complete with a wonderful line that the audience really appreciated: "Mom, why are you drinking? I haven't seen you drink so much since Marvin Gaye died." (originally written 5/6/2000)