Love & Basketball (2000)

My Review

“Love & Basketball” is a romantic sports drama movie about two childhood friends in Los Angeles both pursuing basketball careers. Director-screenwriter Gina Prince-Blythewood, in her feature film debut, did an excellent job weaving together the couples story stretching over many years. She divided the film into four parts, much like the four quarters of a basketball game. It did run a little long with a running time of 127 minutes.

The cast includes Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan as the lead couple, Dennis Haysbert and Debbi Morgan as Epps’ parents, Alfre Woodward and Henry J. Lennix as Lathan’s parents, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union, Tyra Banks, Boris Kodjoe, Al Foster, Monica Calhoun, Kyla Pratt, and Christine Dunford as Coach Davis. The watchable “Love & Basketball” was a modest hit at the box office for producer Spike Lee, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, and New Line Cinema.