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Love and Basketball Aug 16, 2010
I have loved this story ever since my 20 year old basketball-playing son let me borrow his video years ago. Lots of great sports action, an engaging story that not only shows the exciting side of being a high school, college & national caliber basketball star, for both men & women, but reveals some of the negative aspects as well. A "coming of age" romance that is very entertaining! It is a favorite I watch at least once a year.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Love and Basketball Review Jul 15, 2010
I am an educator and my students absolutey love this film and if they love it - I love it and that's it.
It may be done a lot, but it's rarely done this well... Feb 08, 2010
It's a true statement that there are a lot of these kinds of love stories out there. This brand of movie is made almost every week, but there are few films that (for me at least) are able to transcend their own genre as well as `Love & Basketball'. Sure, there are avenues of this film that don't sit as well with me as others, but the bulk of this film is fantastic, and Sanaa Lathan's performance alone is well worth the price of admission.
Monica and Quincy grew up as neighbors. They have always had one of those quarreling sibling relationships, mostly due to their common interest; basketball. Quincy's father was a pro-ball player, and so his future seems predestined, while Monica's drive and dedication make her a better player, and an unlikely rival. As they grow up they stay friends, even if they are constantly at odds, until they realize that they are less like siblings and more like lovers. Basketball continues to divide them, as they split their focus and find that it is conquering them instead of them conquering it.
While much of the storyline feels rather `familiar', there is something special about this film.
For me, it is undeniably Sanaa Lathan. This girl is amazing, and this film marked the start of my personal love affair with her. She is not only physically stunning, but her talent as an actress is undeniable here. She is flawless as she balances Monica's life goals with her actual life, never taking away from her pained curiosity or her hearty dedication. The prom scene is especially memorable as her jealousies and insecurities are made subtly obvious. Her on-court scenes are filled with an intensity that only comes from a complete adoration of the game, and the strife she endures at the hands of her oppressive (albeit loving) mother is completely believable thanks to Lathan's remarkable understanding of her character.
Oscar, you should be ashamed!
I'm less impressed with Omar Epps, but he has never really been anything more than a pretty face to me. I haven't really seen his talent but I understand why my sisters love him. He has a genuine quality in scenes, but mostly he seems to be playing a character instead of playing a person (if that makes sense to you).
A few `clichés' aside, `Love & Basketball' is an extremely good film that feels fresh and exciting and beautifully balances out the many aspects of the film that make it so wonderful. The script is rich enough (despite some generic relationship issues) to allow us to really get to know Monica and Quincy, on and off the court. Between their love life, home life and work life, `Love & Basketball' understands how to give each side of these characters a life all its own. Yes, the film is far more concerned with Monica than Quincy, and it shows, but that doesn't mean that Quincy's character becomes a stock character. This may be Monica's story, but Quincy is a BIG part of it.
Take it from someone who is not a fan of sports or really of sports based movies; this is a movie you really need to see!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Love and Basketball Jan 06, 2010
Eleven-year-old Quincy doesn't know what to make of Monica, a girl who can outplay any of the guys on the neighborhood basketball court. Soon he is infatuated with her and, much to his surprise, she is eager to become closer to him. Best friends all throughout the following school years, the pressure for each to be recruited by college basketball coaches brings them closer together and their love blooms beyond friendship. This movie shows the real love of basketball. Basketball is more than a sport and you could see that with this movie. This movie displays the hardships of becoming a basketball pro such as losing friends and lovers.
Awesome company & product Sep 14, 2009
I ordered the Love & Basketball DVD from iNetVideo. The first new DVD I received was lose in the DVD case and got scratched during shipping. I emailed them and they mailed another new one to me asap. That's awesome customer service and I will do business with this company again.
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