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Amazon.com Gina Prince-Bythewood, a former college athlete, puts a spin on this one-on-one tale of Love and Basketball. Sanaa Lathan (The Best Man) is the fiercely driven, hot-tempered Monica, a tomboy who gives her all for basketball. Omar Epps (The Mod Squad) is Quincy, an NBA player's son who has pro dreams of his own. Next-door neighbors since first grade, they start as rivals (she flabbergasts the boy by outplaying him in a game of driveway pickup) and age into best friends and lovers. The romantic complications follow a familiar game plan, but the film throws a fascinating spotlight onto the contrast between men's and women's basketball. While Quincy plays college ball on huge courts to cheering, sold-out crowds, we see Monica's sweat, tears, and sheer physical dedication in front of tiny audiences in small gyms and second-rate auditoriums. The story is pointedly set in the late 1980s, years before the establishment of the WNBA, so Monica's prospects for pro ball lie exclusively in Europe, while Quincy steps into the pros at home. It's a pleasure to see a character as passionate and fully developed as Monica, and Lathan gives a fiery portrayal (she had never played ball before the film, but you'd never tell from her performance). Prince-Bythewood favors her struggle over Quincy's and opens our eyes to her unique challenges with a sharp, savvy contrast. Alfre Woodard costars as Monica's harping mom (always trying to get her to be more ladylike) and Dennis Haysbert is Quincy's philandering father. Hoops fan Spike Lee produced. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more Reviews (134) 
A Must Buy
Love and Basketball is a wonderful film staring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan, a real life couple, whose chemistry is evident in the movie. The plot follows two standout basketball players throughout their lives, starting at age eleven. The plot, characters, and all other elements are truly great. The film itself is completely worth watching, but the special features on the DVD make it a must to have in your film collection. I particularly enjoyed the Commentary version of the movie where Sanaa Lathan (Monica) and Gina Price-Blythwood (writer/director) offer an inside look at the making of the film. Other great features include the Lucy Pearl music video for "Dance Tonight" and several deleted scenes, which give you the option to watch as the scenes as were meant for the movie and the option to watch with commentary from Price-Blythwood, explaining where the scene would have come in, why it was deleted, etc. The DVD also contains bloopers, a documentary, and Epps & Lathan's audition tapes, which the option of seeing the auditions and the actual scenes. It was great to see how some parts changed (for example, in the audition they addressed how Quincy [Epps] knocked out Monica's tooth when they were eleven, but in the actual film the scene was changed so that Monica got a scar from the incident; the reason behind that is addressed in the commentary version of the film) I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys love stories (Price-Blythwood said that the film is a love story and basketball is a backdrop) or anyone who enjoys basketball because this movie has tons of action. Also, in the commentary edition, the women talked about how certain things in the movie got attention because they were "black" but I want to note that I am a white, teenage female, probably one of the last people this movie was supposed to be marketed to. I think anyone can enjoy this movie because the acting is dynamic and the special features are plentiful!
Refresing and Nostalgic Charmer -- Buy It!
Love and Basketball is loaded with cliches. The writing is solid, but not special. The film feels a bit long and tedious.
Yet, we absolutely love this film! We have viewed this film at least five times. Following each viewing, we have become more engrossed with the story of Quincy and Monica. Superior acting joins this life-then-sports story to engross and mesmerize the audience. The actors and director inject Halle Berry-body into a Calista Flockhart-script. Lesser actors would have failed first-time diretor Gina Prince. Lathan and Epps give superior performances -- subtle and highly effective. They believably portray high school teens and world-hardened adults. Lathan is budding into a superstar. Epps acts better than most superstars. Love and Basketball offers fresh perspective on young love between two people who happen to be African-Americans. Do not let the title fool you -- this story focuses on love first, and how love finds a home between these two basketball players. The basketball theme highlights the mental and physical preparation necessary to win, not live competition. Also refreshing: this is a sports story told from the point-of-view of Lathan's character. She is driven, yet sensitive. You will root for this character who is, "still a cocky (...)." Furthermore, this film is not an "urban" drama. Actors of any race could have played the major roles. The soundtrack provides historical and romantic perspective. This film will make you remember the wonderful joys of young love and the accompanying inexperience. Don't waste anymore time reading reviews -- buy this video!
Love and Basketball
This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. I first saw the movie on TV; it was obvious that some scenes were deleted. I bougth the DVD and I have watched it everyday (sometimes more than once a day). This is a classic love story. I loved the way Ms. Prince-Bythewood portrayed the characters (Monica & Quincy)during the stages of their lives - youth, teenages to young adults. The transformation was very realistic and you saw the devlopment & maturity at each stage. Sanaa & Omar did an outstanding job depicting the writer\director's vision. At the conclusion of each viewing, I am sad because I want to see more. I wish it had been a 3hr movie or the DVD included all deleted scenes. I can't get enough of this movie. It is GREAT!
I love - Love and Basketball
This movie is great. I love the storyline. It is very real and not far fetched from reality. It is wonderful to see this type of love story, where there is no a great deal of sexual contact throughout the entire movie. It had a story which I appreciated. This movie is one of my favorites and one of the best. I am happy it did well for the director. Hopefully she will make more quality films of this nature, that I will own.
Great Movie
A must see. I really enjoyed this film. I think Sanaa Latham & Omar Epps are two actors who I hope will be around for years to come. This is a double love story. The love of the game of Basketball and just simply (being in love). They both gave stunning performances. Sanaa is not just another pretty face in Hollywood. She is a terrific actress. I personally know Omar Epps Mother (She is the Principal at a Elementary School in New York). She said, her Son could act& I must agree with her. Excellent Movie I could watch over and over again. I makes you feel all fuzzy inside.
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Pitiful