The title “Love and Basketball” sums up the plot of this movie and if you like either, this is the movie for you. “Love and Basketball,” which originally came out in 2000, is the tale of two young kids who both dream of becoming professional basketball players. The movie follows them through their professional and personal struggles to achieve their dreams. Written by newcomer Gina Prince-Bythewood, a former college athlete, and produced by Spike Lee, this movie was well received by critics and was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival.
The movie starts in 1981, in quarter 1 (the movie is split into quarters like a basketball game) when 11-year-old Monica (Sanaa Lathan, “Brown Sugar”) moves next door to Quincy (Omar Epps, “Scream 2”), son of a famous NBA star. The blueprint of their relationship is mapped out during their first encounter. After Monica challenges Quincy to a basketball game and wins, their fierce competition begins. This is when their love/hate relationship begins.
The movie follows the respective hurdles both Monica and Quincy face to accomplish their goals of becoming professional ball players. After the first quarter, the movie flashes forward to 1988. Quincy is a cocky high school MVP whose life is mapped out for him with a scholarship to any school he desires. Monica is hot-tempered basketball player who is desperate to prove herself and earn a scholarship to USC. Coincidentally, both players end up at USC, where their relationship changes from high-school pals to college lovers.
The third quarter of the movie takes place in college. This is where the movie really starts to develop the characters. You can see the agony Monica goes through as the girlfriend of Quincy, a star who is destined for greatness. While Quincy is playing to sold-out crowds, Monica is struggling to get court time to barely-there crowds in small gyms. As they struggle to reach their professional goals, they must face their feelings for each other. After Quincy learns some devastating news, their relationship is tested. Quincy forces Monica to choose between her dreams and him, and the consequences of his actions affect both of them greatly.
The cast of this movie is incredibly talented. Debbi Morgan (“Soul Food”) plays Quincy’s mother, a heartbroken and betrayed woman. Alfre Woodard (“Down in the Delta”) plays Monica’s mother, a stay-at-home mom who doesn’t understand her daughter. And Dennis Haysbert (“Far From Heaven”) plays Quincy’s father, a former NBA star whose fame is fading. Although the supporting cast is impressive, it is the leading roles that capture audiences. Omar Epps and Sanna Lathan are the perfect actors for their parts. Epps shows his character’s growth from an arrogant and cocky high schooler who wants to be exactly like his father to a grown man who can finally see what he wants from life. Lathan shows her character’s growth from a temperamental teen to a mature adult who has dreams and will make any sacrifice to achieve them. The two have amazing chemistry on camera (so strong they became a couple off-screen) and are a couple everyone wants to see succeed.
This movie has so many positive attributes that it is easy to overlook any flaws. It is nice to see Prince-Bythewood spotlighting Monica’s struggles because women’s basketball is rarely dramatized in movies, making this film unlike other sports movies. Also unlike others, the movie doesn’t build up to one final game with the last shot on a basketball hoop waiting to see if a point will be scored. Instead, “Love and Basketball” nicely balances the romance and the sports, allowing it to appeal to everyone.
This movie will have everyone excited and waiting to see what will happen next. So run out and rent this flick!
Grade: A