I purchased this film many years ago, in fact I think it was about 6 years ago, maybe 7, and I watched it for the millionth time last night and thought to myself "people really need to know how good this film is"... Because lets face it, if you haven't already heard of it, and you don't love ... Read review
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood, a former college athlete, puts a spin on this one-on-one ... more
tale of, as the title says,Love and Basketball. Sanaa Lathan (The Best Man) is the fiercely driven, hot-tempered Monica, a tomboy who gives her all for basketball....
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood, a former college athlete, puts a spin on this one-on-one ... more
tale of, as the title says,Love and Basketball. Sanaa Lathan (The Best Man) is the fiercely driven, hot-tempered Monica, a tomboy who gives her all for basketball....
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 9 to 13 days...
All's Fair In Love And Basketball From the playground to the pro leagues Monica and ... more
Quincy taught each other how to play the game. Now their commitment to the sport will force them to make a choice between each other and the game...between family...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
From producers Spike Lee and Sam Kitt comes a love story told in four quarters, Love and ... more
Basketball follows Quincy (Omar Epps) and Monica (Sanaa Lathan), childhood adversaries and talented athletes who have a love for the game of basketball and each ot...
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Immersive story line, believable acting, soundtrack Disadvantages: Very basketball orientated - difficult to understand if you don't know much about basketball
...of it, and you don't love basketball then why should you ever bother to watch it? Right? Well hopefully i'll convince you its a good idea. But i'll make sure I show you why I like it, and why some people may not.
Well firstly, the story. The film is a story of 2 next door neighbors that have been living next to each other since they were kids. Both of them (a boy and a girl) love the sport of basketball. The boy, Quincy, (Omar ... ...is, after all a sexy love story. The music selected in this film is one of the high points for me. You really get sucked in to the moment by the music that is playing and it really helps you to understand what is happening.
The performances by all the cast in this film is incredibly believable. Every time a new character is introduced you don't think twice about it unlike in some films when you just know that actor is not suited ... more
I purchased this film many years ago, in fact I think it was about 6 years ago, maybe 7, and I watched it for the millionth time last night and thought to myself "people really need to know how good this film is"... Because lets face it, if you haven't already heard of it, and you don't love basketball then why should you ever bother to watch it? Right? Well hopefully i'll convince you its a good idea. But i'll make sure I show you why I like it, and why some people may not.
Well firstly, the story. The film is a story of 2 next door neighbors that have been living next to each other since they were kids. Both of them (a boy and a girl) love the sport of basketball. The boy, Quincy, (Omar Epps) has dreams of making it big time in the NBA (National Basketball Association) and has all the tools and money to do so, due to his father being a current NBA player for the LA Clippers. The girl, Monica, (Sanaa Lathan) also has big dreams of her own. Throughout the film she keeps mentioning how she wants to be the first woman to play in the NBA rather than entering the WNBA (Woman's National Basketball Association). Monica, in contrast to Quincy does not have all the money in the world as her father is a banker and her mother is a house wife. None the less, both Monica and Quincy, two talented athletes begin to follow their dreams.
The story continues with intervals of 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, 3rd quarter and 4th quarter to represent the form of a basketball game. Each time it jumps to the next quarter, the story takes a big leap forward of a few years each time. Think of it like the chapters of a book. As the quarters and the film progresses the two characters fill their own part of the film with their own individual story. Though at times the stories are completely different to each other, the characters remain connected and liked throughout. This really helps us to stay in touch with each and really connect with them ourselves. An amazing addition to an amazing film.
As more and more of the plot unfolds you begin to really understand both Monica and Quincy, events happen that tear them apart, but you keep connected to each of them. Being quite a slow film, you really get time to get to know them.
Now will I enjoy this film you ask?? Well this film is definitely based completely around basketball and if you don't know anything about basketball it may be hard for you to understand some of the things that happen. Saying this, it is not completely necessary to have to know the in's ad out's of basketball to enjoy this film. It is, after all a sexy love story. The music selected in this film is one of the high points for me. You really get sucked in to the moment by the music that is playing and it really helps you to understand what is happening.
The performances by all the cast in this film is incredibly believable. Every time a new character is introduced you don't think twice about it unlike in some films when you just know that actor is not suited to the particular role. The casting crew did a really great job with this film and I personally believe that the best performance is made by Sanaa Lathan who plays Monica.
Overall this film is one of my favorite films of all time. This may be because of my own love of basketball, or just because i'm a sucker for a good love story (I know, pathetic for a 17 year old guy eh??). Whatever the reason, I certainly enjoyed it. I encourage you to at least try it, especially if you like basketball, or emotional films. Otherwise, I would advise you to give it a miss. It won't be for everyone, and there certainly isn't any explosions or car chases!!
Advantages: Intelligent Disadvantages: More for US fans
...court.They seem to develop a love interest too. Fast forward seven years and Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are very successful secondary school basketball players. Quincy has had more success and less criticism for his approach, whereas Monica is criticised for being too aggressive. University looms and the stakes get higher as US universities are usually excellent breeding grounds for professional careers in basketball. Can Monica ... ...basketball fan to enjoy the love interest. Nicely directed and neatly written, Love and Basketball is a low-key surprise for the summer season dominated by the majors, but these are the film studio variety. It would be a nice change to see a film like this doing well in the film charts - I just think the studio wouldn't have the faith required to give it a wide release.
Venture out and catch it while you can. ...
harrison_simon 09.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Love And Basketball (DVD)
Advantages: Has a sexy feel to it, Funny Disadvantages: Humour is very American
I bought Love and Basketball after buying Brown Sugar, and wasn't disappointed that I had. Moncia ( Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) both have an endless love for basketball and they both want to play in the NBA when they grow up like Quincy's dad. In high school Quincy is a typical jock, while monica is still trying to break through male barrier and make them see that shes just as equal as a man when playing basketball. As they get older they ... ...shone in the spot light, but Monica is told that she plays much too hard. Between all of this Monica and Quincy realise that the feelings they have for each other are much more then friends, but neither of them are willing to admit it. The storyline I felt was very similair to Brown Sugar where two friends have grown up together and had deep emotions for one an other but do nothing about it, scared incase they are rejected because then they lose ...
ollie_12 16.06.2007 (26.07.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Love And Basketball (DVD)
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Advantages: Laughter all the way Disadvantages: Not for those offended by Parker/Stone previous work
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If you liked South Park and their film Basketball, then you will love this! This is their films meets Thunderbirds
This film is about a crime stopping team potecting the world like Thunderbirds did. But unlike the Thunderbirds, they destroy the world in the process of saving it without trying to give too much away.
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Quincy and Monica are an African-American couple who grew up together and as they reach adulthood they fall in love. They also share the same passion - basketball - and their lives consist of making all of these relationships work...
"...Breaks away from other sports-themed dramas, thanks to the clarity and dash of Prince-Bythewood's agile directorial style and the exciting originality of the subject..." -- Rating: A- (Entertainment Weekly, p.76, 28/05/2000)
"...Charming....This is an extremely well-acted movie. Lathan in particular is a marvel..." (Los Angeles Times, p.F10, 21/04/2000)
"...[The film] has an enchanting, lived-in homeyness....a promising first movie from a filmmaker with a lot to offer..." (New York Times, p.E18, 26/05/2000)
"...LOVE & BASKETBALL is a touching romance, rich in humour and finely acted..." -- 4 out of 5 stars (Total Film, p.89, 01/08/2000)
"...Effortlessly erotic in a way that few films are..." (Variety, p.54, 07/02/2000)
DVD Description
LOVE AND BASKETBALL is the powerful story of two next-door neighbors in Los Angeles who grow up loving basketball and, eventually, each other. Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be basketball stars since they were kids. Monica has had to work hard to establish herself as a presence, while Quincy was born with natural star potential. As the two struggle to reach their goals of playing professionally, they must also deal with their feelings for each other.
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