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 ... See full summary »
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Set against the backdrop of boxing at the Naval Academy, centers on a young man from the wrong side of the tracks whose dream of attending Annapolis becomes a reality.
Director:
Justin Lin
Stars:
James Franco,
Donnie Wahlberg,
Jordana Brewster
When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent with the only athlete who stays with him.
Director:
Cameron Crowe
Stars:
Tom Cruise,
Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Renée Zellweger
In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion. The head coach is deified, as long as the team is winning and 17-year-old schoolboys carry the hopes of an entire community onto the... See full summary »
Director:
Brian Robbins
Stars:
James Van Der Beek,
Jon Voight,
Paul Walker
A poor and passionate young man falls in love with a rich young woman and gives her a sense of freedom. They soon are separated by their social differences.
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. Written by
<jhailey@hotmail.com>
Producer Spike Lee believed the female lead should have believable basketball skills. Gina Prince-Bythewood said in an interview "I saw over 700 people for the part: actors, ballplayers, people who had never acted before in their life. It finally came down to Sanaa [Lathan] and Niesha Butler [a star player at Georgia Tech and 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year]. I put Sanaa with a basketball coach for two months and Niesha with an acting coach." See more »
Goofs
At the dance, Monica tells her date she feels hot, so Jason goes to get her some punch. Quincy comes over to talk to Monica, then has an awkward moment when Jason returns and takes Monica onto the dance floor. Jason never has or mentions punch. See more »
"Lyte As A Rock"
Written by MC Lyte and Audio Two
Performed by MC Lyte
Courtesy of Electra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products See more »
"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)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
"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)