Love and Basketball

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
(2000)

Although a bit forumulaic, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s unique romance set in the world of professional sports delighted audiences during its premiere at The Sundance Film Festival. Childhood neighbors Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps meet cute and grow up together stubbornly ignoring their attraction to one another as their egos and love of basketball manage to both unite them and pull them apart until adulthood, career prospects and hormones cause them to look once again at the past and decide what they want for their future. While admittedly predictable, female athletes will love the intelligent, realistic and compassionate portrayal by Lathan as a beautiful girl who loves to play like the boys and the film manages to raise some questions about gender fairness and pressures placed on athletes. Great soundtrack and a fun film though it does feel a bit long near the end.