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Summary: Totally awesome DVD!!
Review: I saw this movie in the theatre and fell in love with it. I haven't like a movie this much since "The Best Man". I thought that Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps did a surperb job. The on-screen chemistry between the two of them was too good. If you love movies that tell a love story, you will definately love this movie. It is about high school sweet hearts who's connection through basketball takes them through college. It is a very very good movie.
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Summary: Great Love Story
Review: Just finshed watching this movie and I loved it Omar Epps was great in this film and I highly recommed it if you enjoy basketball or like love stories. I give this movie 5 stars. Go see it you won't be disipointed.
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Summary: Fine Debut for Writer/Director Prince-Bythewood
Review: Gina Prince-Bythewood shows much promise in her first feature film. LOVE & BASKETBALL is a warm and sweet story that shows a number of things rarely seen in films about African Americans. First of all, the film is a rare glimpse of the African American middle class. There's no drive-by shootings or gang violence here. Also, the film is special because it has the guts to show that women (specifically African American women) can be fiercely competitive athletically and clearly feminine at the same time. There's a softness and innocence to Monica Wright's character (in a well shaded performance by Sanaa Lathan) that is not often seen for people of color.The film comes to a fine start with Al Green's classic rendition of "Love and Happiness." The song really gets you into the proper mood for the film. Prince-Bythewood also does a good job in establishing the social milieu. You don't have to be from Los Angeles to know that the location is where affluent African Americans live (Baldwin Hills). Kyla Pratt as the younger version of Monica is perfectly cast. Her work in the early scenes cleanly segues into the late teenage and adult Monica played by Ms. Lathan. The writer/director cleverly tells the story by organizing it into four quarters -- like in a basketball game. The audience is really drawn into Monica's character as she struggles to find her place in the world. Unlike Spike Lee (who served as executive producer on this film), Prince-Bythewood wisely chose to cast an actor in the key role of Monica and teach her how to play basketball rather than the other way around. Spike Lee casting the very wooden Ray Allen in his HE GOT GAME was a critical mistake. In LOVE & BASKETBALL, Lathan brings a richness and a texture to her character, which is hard to achieve from a non-actor like Allen. Basketball purists might point out deficiencies in Lathan's ball handling, but this is pure nit-picking. Prince-Bythewood's film supports the notion that it's easier to teach an actor how to play basketball than to teach a ballplayer how to act. In terms of pacing, LOVE & BASKETBALL moves pretty well until about three-fourths of the way through the movie. Without revealing the particulars of the plot, the film starts to lose momentum at this point. Monica's character seems to be in a holding pattern with no sense of direction or focus. Until Monica gets her bearings and figures out where she is going with her life, the film lags. It's as if the writer (Prince-Bythewood) can't seem to figure out how to keep Monica in an active mode instead of a passive one. Eventually, Monica gets back on track, but by now the film has lost some of its sharpness. Generally speaking, the film is well cast in all but a few minor roles. LOVE & BASKETBALL also avoids some of the familiar stereotypes found in African American films. This is particularly true in terms of color-casting. For example, in a typical African American film, the father of a light complexioned person is always dark complexioned and the mother is always light complexioned. In LOVE & BASKETBALL, the relatively light complexioned Sanaa Lathan has the light complexioned Harry J. Lennix as her father and the dark complexioned Alfre Woodard as her mother. On the surface this wouldn't appear to be a significant point. However, if you look at a large number of films with predominantly African American casts, the significance of this will become apparent. Finally, it appears that African American actors are being cast based more on talent than on their skin's melanin content. Overall, despite a few "double dribbles" LOVE & BASKETBALL is an entertaining and heartfelt film that hopefully will encourage others to expand the range of African American cinema. Gina Prince-Bythewood is clearly a filmmaker to look out for in the future. Hopefully, the film will also spark greater opportunities for its fine cast (particularly Lathan) and the many talented craftspeople that worked "behind the scenes." If you're tired of formulaic films where the African American characters lack sensitivity and ambition (particularly if you're also looking for a love story), of the recent crop of films, LOVE & BASKETBALL is your best bet.
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Summary: In LURVEE with Love and Basketball!
Review: I finally got rid of the man for the nite & settled in to watch my new purchase. I ordered Love and Basketball after seeing Sanaa Lathan in The Best Man, and I was not disappointed. I cried, I cheered, I shouted at the screen. What an absolutely fantastic film! I played basketball when I was younger so maybe that's another reason why the film appealed, but it was sooooo much more. Omar Epps does himself proud as a man trying to live up to a father that doesn't manage to live up to himself; the relationship between Monica and her mother was heart wrenching and touching - so filled with misunderstandings on both sides, and the relationship between Q and Monica was REAL. Equal talents, equal egos, equal hot bods!! It was seriously cool to see a film full of black people who weren't on drugs, or shooting each other but actually reaching for their dreams and working for them. I heartily recommend this one to everyone, and my man will be sitting down to watch this when he comes home! Excellent vid from Lucy Pearl, and cracking soundtrack for the film - one of my best buys ever. SEE IT!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully done
Review: I refused to see this movie in the theatres when it first came out because the title sounded so stupid...I thought it would be some Michael Jordan type [stuff]. But when my friend forced me to watch it, this movie became one of my all time favorites. It is one of the best love stories shown on the screen in recent years. Also, it portrays the growth and maturity of the young woman very well. This will be the first dvd i buy once I buy a DVD player:)
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Summary: Great Movie!!!
Review: It was very enjoyable. The Chemistry is very good between the main charcters. You enjoy an emtional rolloer coaster too.
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Summary: Cool but somewhat tried and tested movie
Review: Boy meets girl. Girl isn't a socialite, boy is. Boy charms girl. Both do wonderfully well in basketball. A bit tried and tested, isn't it. However, considering that it is one of those love and sports movies, and considering that we have the inevitable slow mo sports playing everyu now and then, the movies done quite well, with some good gags too. It is split into four quarters and done intelligently. It then documents their seperate lives after school (the girl's only basketball hopes are only in Europe), and, of course, they end up re-united it the end (aww). But the point is, this film is so good that it made me really like it DESPITE the shall we say 'old' storyline, because its just so well done. If this had been the first movie of this love and sports type, it would be one of the best of all time.
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Summary: Best Movie Ever
Review: Love and Basketball is my all time favorite movie. When I got the movie, I watched it over and over and over. Everyone that I have talked to that has seen teh movie has loved it so much. I think that Quincy(Omar Epps) and Monica(Sanna Lathan) make on of the best couples ever. I loved thge movie beacuse it has comedy romance and everything else that you can think of. I love the music on there enough to go out and buy the soundtrack. I rate this movie 5+ stars.
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Summary: Should Have Won Oscars
Review: I actually saw 'Love And Basketball' when it came out in theaters because I am a big Omar Epps fan and fell in love with this movie. In fact I went to the theater twice to see it,and own the DVD and the VHS tape. The movie should have been nominated for at least 2 Oscars, One for Best Picture, and a Best Actress nomination for Sanaa Lathan. The movie is a romance with a basketball backdrop. You meet Monica and Quincy at age 11 and get to watch the relationship develop as they move toward adulthood. This movie has you laughing, crying and cheering as you watch the events unfold. Also seeing Debbi Morgan, Alfre Woodard, and Dennis Haysbert as part of this cast makes this a definite 'must-add' to your collection.
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Summary: 2001 NAACP Winner Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Review: LOVE AND BASKETBALL
Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert, Debbi Morgan, 2000 Synopsis
Monica Wright (Lathan) shows tears, sweat and determination on small courts and second rate auditoriums, while the boy she has loved since age 11 (Epps), plays in front of sold out crowds. Their mutual competitiveness takes it toll, until years later when they find their feelings for each other just won't go away. My Review
Sanaa Lathan (who had never touched a basketball prior to this film) deservedly won the 2001 NAACP Award for Outstanding Actress for her realistic and breakthrough performance as a tomboy trying her best to win and gain respect in a male dominated sport. Omar Epps and Alfre Woodard put in great performances as well, in this wonderful absorbing story that has some great music from the 1980's.
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