Love & Basketball

2000 Drama

A young African-American couple navigates the tricky paths of romance and athletics in this drama. Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) and Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) grew up in the same neighborhood and have known each other since childhood. As they grow into adulthood, they fall in love, but they also share another all-consuming passion: basketball. They've followed the game all their lives and have no small amount of talent on the court. As Quincy and Monica struggle to make their relationship work, they follow separate career paths though high school and college basketball and, they hope, into stardom in big-league professional ball. Love and Basketball was the first feature film for writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood, who previously helmed several comedy specials for Dave Chappelle. Spike Lee co-produced.

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Dennis Haysbert, Debbi Morgan, Alfre Woodard

Reviews

  • Lathan, charismatic and beautifully strong, holds the screen in every scene.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    19 January 2013

  • In her first feature, writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood tells a familiar tale with first-rate acting and an underlying sense of authenticity.

    - Los Angeles Times

    19 January 2013

  • The cinematic equivalent of a high, arching rainbow of a three-pointer from midcourt.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    19 January 2013

  • Not as taut as it could have been, but I prefer its emotional perception to the pumped-up sports cliches I was sort of expecting.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    19 January 2013

  • Love and basketball -- if you like either one, here is a movie for you.

    Bob Graham - The San Francisco Chronicle

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Best Actress

    BET Awards (2001)

  • Best Film

    Black Reel Awards (2001)

  • Best Romance

    Golden Trailer Awards (2001)

     
  • Sundance Film Category

    Humanitas Prize (2000)

  • Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

    Image Awards (2001)