Love & Basketball
| Love & Basketball | |
|---|---|
 Love & Basketball film poster This file may be deleted at any time. | |
| Directed by | Gina Prince-Bythewood |
| Written by | Gina Prince-Bythewood |
| Produced by | Andrew Z. Davis Cynthia Guidry Spike Lee Jay Stern |
| Starring | Omar Epps Sanaa Lathan |
| Cinematography | Reynaldo Villalobos |
| Music by | Terence Blanchard Ralph E. Tresvant |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release dates | April 16, 2000 |
Running time | 124 min. |
| Country | US |
| Languages | English Spanish |
| Budget | $15,000,000 |
Love & Basketball is a 2000 romantic drama film, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This film stars Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. It is the story of two next-door neighbors in Los Angeles, California who grew up loving basketball and, eventually, each other.
Tagline: All's Fair in Love and Basketball.
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Cast
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Reception
Film reviews
Love & Basketball received mixed, but generally favorable reviews for its direction, cast, and storyline. On Metacritic, the film scored a 70 metascore—based on 28 reviews. [1] Notable film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, says "The film is not as taut as it could have been, but I prefer its emotional perception to the pumped-up sports clichés I was sort of expecting. It's about the pressures of being a star athlete; the whole life, not the game highlights. I'm not sure I quite believe the final shot, though. I think the girl suits up for the sequel." Ebert gave the film 3 stars. [2]
Film critic Desson Howe, of The Washington Post's Entertainment Guide, writes " 'Love and Basketball' had moments of such tenderness and sophistication, complimented by such romantic dreaminess between lead performers Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. First-time filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood's film joins such films as 'The Best Man' and 'The Wood', which look for the class, not the crass, in African American life." Howe gave the film 3.5 stars. [3]
Box office
Love & Basketball was produced on an estimated $15,000,000 budget. In the opening weekend of its release, it was shown on 1,237 screen, and took in $8,139,180. It would eventually take in a total of $27,441,122 at the box office.
DVD release
Love & Basketball was released on DVD in Region 1 on October 10, 2000 and in Region 2 on July 2, 2002; it was distributed by New Line Home Video.
DVD features include:
- Feature-Length commentary by writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood and actress Sanaa Lathan
- 5.1 isolated score with commentary by composer Terence Blanchard, editor Terilyn A. Shropshire and Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Deleted scenes
- Blooper reel
- Audition tapes featuring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan
- Animated storyboards of basketball sequences
- Music video - Lucy Pearl "Dance Tonight"
- Original documentary: Breaking the glass ceiling - The rise and acceptance of women competitors
Awards and Nominations
- Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture — Sanaa Lathan (won)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture — Alfre Woodard (won)
- Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture — Omar Epps (nominated)
- Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)
- Best Actress (Theatrical) — Sanaa Lathan (won)
- Best Director (Theatrical) — Gina Prince-Bythewood (won)
- Best Actor (Theatrical) — Omar Epps (nominated)
- Best Screenplay (Theatrical) — Gina Prince-Bythewood (nominated)
2001 Independent Spirit Awards
- Best First Screenplay — Gina Prince-Bythewood (won)
- Best Female Lead — Sanaa Lathan (nominated)
- Best Actress — Sanaa Lathan (won)
- Best Actor- Omar Epps(nominated)
See also
- Love & Basketball (soundtrack) — soundtrack to the film.
Notes
- ^ "Love & Basketball". Metacritic. Retrieved January 14, 2006.
- ^ Roger Ebert. "Love & Basketball". Chicago Sun-Times. April 21, 2000.
- ^ Desson Howe. "'Love and Basketball': A Winning Team". Washington Post's Entertainment Guide. April 21, 2000.
External links
