Love & Basketball
One of the top movies of its genre; perhaps Lathan's best screen pairing.
"Love & Basketball," starring Omar Epps & Sanaa Lathan, is one of the top five films within the African-American romance genre.
One thing that makes this movie particularly poignant is its spectacular use of music. I don’t know of any woman who, after seeing this film, can hear Maxwell’s rendition of “This Woman’s Work” the same way again. That song and the scene it accompanies (in which Lathan’s character loses her virginity) are forever married in my mind, and that is just one example of a soundtrack that’s perfectly matched to the film.
Of course the story is everyone’s fantasy: becoming friends and falling in love with the boy or girl next door. The chemistry between Lathan & Epps makes their film romance beyond believable (by far, Lathan’s best screen pairing), causing genuine turmoil in audiences whenever their relationship faltered. Their relationship is addressed through basketball quarters (they’re both up-and-coming basketball stars whose experiences differ due to their sex) and spans from the 1970s to the present, adding fun nostalgia to an already winning formula.
Beyond Lathan & Epps the film’s auxiliary cast consists of real pros. Dennis Haysbert, Alfre Woodard, Debbi Morgan, and Gabrielle Union truly elevate the film with their expert performances. They flesh out roles that in other films can turn into clutter and portray characters that are incredibly relatable. My only qualm is that they seemed to forebode a subplot with Lathan’s mother (Woodard) that they later dropped—-perhaps an illness
"Love & Basketball" is a good bet for any “girls’ night in” (with plenty of eye candy and romance), but it has enough of a sports theme and a male perspective to keep any guy satisfied. A great addition to the romance section of your DVD collection.
Written by: Katherine E. Webb
Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 20-Jun-2007
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