Love & Basketball
In 1981 in L.A., Monica moves in next door to Quincy. They're 11, and both want to play in the NBA, just like Quincy's dad. Their love-hate relationship lasts into high school, with Monica's edge and Quincy's top-dog attitude separating them, except when Quincy's parents argue and he climbs through Monica's window to sleep on the floor. As high school ends, they come together as a couple, but within a year, with both of them playing ball at USC, Quincy's relationship with his father takes an ugly turn, and it leads to a break up with Monica. Some years later, their pro careers at a crossroads, they meet again. It's time for a final game of one-on-one with high stakes.
Director
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Starring
Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Glenndon Chatman, Jess Willard, Chris Warren
Genre
Drama, Romance, Sport
My Rating
8.0 / 10
Format & Location
Format: Blu-ray
Location: Shelf
Date Added
July 6, 2024
Review
Another entry in the Criterion Challenge, this one under the subject of "Watch a film from the CC40 Boxset."
I've owned this for a bit and never had taken the time to sit down with it. I'm not much of a basketball person -- I kinda can watch and appreciate it, but I just don't really care much. This, however, was pretty good. The story grabbed me and held me for the entire two-plus hours. In fact, this is probably the first time in about two months that I've been able to sit and watch an entire movie in one shot at home.
Performance-wise, I think both leads were pretty good. Omar Epps's Quincy was a bit of a whiner for a lot of the movie. He came around, and turned into a decent grown up. Omar had his moment around this time, nd man he had a moment. I never thought much one way or the other about him, but I figure he's not bad after watching this.
Sanaa Lathan was great. The character felt a lot, like a LOT lot, like me at that age. In high school, I was a decent athlete, but I had no control over emotions. I got mad, I "hated" the other team, all that stuff. Toxic stuff that hampered my ability to go further. Monica was pretty much that. Then she figured it out. She used that anger to focus and became a great at basketball. I think Lathan nailed it, and was a treat to watch the entire time.
Yeah, it was a bit predictable and maybe had a cheesy wrap up, but the movie felt right for the era. If I had seen this in 2000, when I was 25 and not far removed from the high school version of myself, I probably wouldn't have liked this at all. I'm glad it took me this long to get to it.
I've owned this for a bit and never had taken the time to sit down with it. I'm not much of a basketball person -- I kinda can watch and appreciate it, but I just don't really care much. This, however, was pretty good. The story grabbed me and held me for the entire two-plus hours. In fact, this is probably the first time in about two months that I've been able to sit and watch an entire movie in one shot at home.
Performance-wise, I think both leads were pretty good. Omar Epps's Quincy was a bit of a whiner for a lot of the movie. He came around, and turned into a decent grown up. Omar had his moment around this time, nd man he had a moment. I never thought much one way or the other about him, but I figure he's not bad after watching this.
Sanaa Lathan was great. The character felt a lot, like a LOT lot, like me at that age. In high school, I was a decent athlete, but I had no control over emotions. I got mad, I "hated" the other team, all that stuff. Toxic stuff that hampered my ability to go further. Monica was pretty much that. Then she figured it out. She used that anger to focus and became a great at basketball. I think Lathan nailed it, and was a treat to watch the entire time.
Yeah, it was a bit predictable and maybe had a cheesy wrap up, but the movie felt right for the era. If I had seen this in 2000, when I was 25 and not far removed from the high school version of myself, I probably wouldn't have liked this at all. I'm glad it took me this long to get to it.