abajoue Review of Love & Basketball

Love & Basketball (2000)

One of the best contemporary love stories of all time - A++

[10/10 · 12 June 2006]

I recently bought the "Love & Basketball" special edition DVD, after having watched it at the theater when it first hit the box-office, and again on pay-per-view over 3 years ago. Watching L&B again after 3+ years, I was reminded of why I absolutely fell in LOVE with it in the first place. So many things that Monica and Q experienced in each "Quarter" of the movie brought back memories of my own high school and college experiences. In many ways, L&B was a coming-of-age movie for me. (Not to mention that the soundtrack is a fabulous trip down musical memory-lane). L&B is a poignant and touching modern story love story that follows the evolving lives and love of two young African-American athletes, as they navigate through the complications and changes thrown at them as they mature into adulthood. Sanaa Lathan is a standout in this movie. As always, with consummate ease, she infuses "humanness" and sincerity in to every character she plays. The on-screen chemistry between Sanaa and Omar is so perfect it just tugs at your heartstrings. It turns out they were a real-life couple around the time the movie was filmed/released, but real-life romance does not always guarantee on-screen chemistry (just look at "Eyes Wide Shut" with Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise). Fortunately, Sanaa and Omar's real-life chemistry came across wonderfully on screen. I think that the first love scene between Monica and Q is one of the most beautiful, touching, and tastefully done scenes of its kind in film. I NEVER cry at movies, and I was a little misty-eyed at the end--not typical for a love scene. Also, the second-to-last scene where Monica and Q play basketball one-on-one for Q's heart--accompanied by a spot-on track by Meshell Ndegeocello--brought a tear or two to my eyes. L&B is a classic love story, but it deftly manages to avoid triteness or unoriginality by giving the viewer subtle glimpses into several of life's realities as they impact Monica and Q. The marked disparity in opportunities for male and female athletes underscores the entire movie, and we get an inside look as Monica invests sweat and tears pursuing her dream. We also see the sacrifices and strength of both Monica and some of the supporting female characters in the movie, such as Monica and Q's mothers, and Monica's teammates. I loved the ending of this movie as well. By giving the audience a positive glimpse into the future, L&B delivered the "happy ending" that we've come to expect from romantic movies, without being corny, overly-sappy or unrealistic. L&B is a wonderful (under-recognized), timeless love story that will touch athletes and non-athletes like, and it is a "must" for any movie collection. A+