Director Gina Prince-Bythewood, a former college athlete, puts a spin on this one-on-one tale of, as the title says, Love and Basketball. Sanaa Lathan (The Best Man) is the fiercely driven, hot-tempered Monica, a tomboy who gives her all for basketball. Omar Epps is Quincy, an NBA player's son who has pro dreams of his own. Next-door neighbours since first grade, they start as rivals (she flabbergasts the boy by outplaying him in a game of driveway pickup) and age into best friends and lovers. The romantic complications follow a familiar game plan, but the film throws a fascinating spotlight onto the contrast between men's and women's basketball. While Quincy plays college ball on huge courts to cheering, sold-out crowds, we see Monica's sweat, tears and sheer physical dedication in front of tiny audiences in small gyms and second-rate auditoriums. The story is pointedly set in the late 1980s, years before the establishment of the WNBA, so Monica's prospects for pro ball lie exclusively in Europe, while Quincy steps into the pros at home. It's a pleasure to see a character as passionate and fully developed as Monica, and Lathan gives a fiery portrayal (she had never played ball before the film, but you'd never tell from her performance). Prince-Bythewood favours her struggle over Quincy's and opens our eyes to her unique challenges with a sharp, savvy contrast. Alfre Woodard co-stars as Monica's harping mother (always trying to get her to be more ladylike) and Dennis Haysbert is Quincy's philandering father. Hoops fan Spike Lee produced. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com

This is a film that you can watch over and over again. The story is simple and touching. You will fall in love with Q and Monica and feel their love story. The acting is first class and the chemistry between the leads is evident. The whole movie is set to a fantastic soundtrack and I would definitely say that if you're a fan of love story/chick flicks then this movie needs to be in your collection. Buy it you won't regret it.

This has to be one of the best, if not THE best movie ever! I could watch it over and over again and not get tired of it! An absolute must see for anyone and eveyone!

Monica, a basketball player aspiring to be the first female baller of the NBA. Her father is a banker, her mother a strong stay-at-home mom, and she has one sister, Lena. Omar Epps plays Quincy, a basketball star who is adored by fans at every corner and is the son of a professional basketball player and supportive mother. The story takes us from their childhood, first meeting each other as neighbors in a suburban community in California to their mid-twenties. They each love the game and as time goes on they realize how much they love each other and what they will do to remain committed to the game and their bond.

I don't really have all the words to describe the movie, but you'll have familiar flashbacks of the 80's with clips of video games, a few fashion trends, and TV shows. If you're in the mood for basketball game clips, real life awkward moments, and those scenes where more is said without using words-check out Love and Basketball by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

This love-story set against the back drop of emerging basketball players might make one think that this is a "black movie" aimed squarely at that audience, which is not. This is one of the tenderest loving stories that I have seen many times. It all has to do with the strong cast. First off is Omar Epps, who has been good since I first noticed him in another sports movie called "The Program" which once more pitted him in NCCA competition but at that time he was a football player. If you haven't seen "The Program" it's one you need to rent. It's one of my favorite football movies. In this film, Omar delivers the edge of a spoiled athlete who has the soul of a boy.

Next has to be the enchanting performance of Sanaa Lathan. Lathan is so real and truthful in this love story. Since the majority of the film focused on her we saw the depth and raw emotion coming from her. She was nothing less than excellent as Monica; her passion for the game, and her passion for Q, was drawn out beautifully. Equally believable as a young woman experiencing her "first time", and a more mature, sensual woman playing "strip basketball", Lathan's all-too-brief love scenes with Epps brought Black Sexuality back to the mainstream movie audience as it hasn't been shown since "Jason's Lyric" back in 1994.

Away from the leads, you have Dennis Haysbert as Epps' father and Alfre Woodard as Lathan's mother. These flawed parental figures were subtle but brilliant performances. Haysbert is a pro basketball player on his way down but living up to his son's perfect image leads to his unraveling. Woodard is always brilliant and here her parental figure believes her daughter resents her stay at home role. Writer/director Gina Prince, was strongest of all. Her performance here is reminiscent of John Singleton's strong entry into feature filmmaking (Boyz In The Hood), but only in the sense that they put out such good works in their rookie year. That, and the fact that both are Black directors, is where the comparison ends; life in Singleton's "Hood" was vastly different than Prince's vision of Hoop Life.

My one big issue was the turning point in Q and Monica's relationship. I had a very hard time believing that the thing which changed their relationship (trying to avoid spoilers here) would've really done so; since they both were in very similar situations, there's no way one of the characters should've been so pigheaded as to huff and puff about...that thing. While not a big enough issue for me to downgrade the movie's rating, it's a flaw that could've been easily addressed by Prince giving the characters a different conflict to stress over. Other than that it's a great movie to watch.

When i saw this film at the cinema in 2000, there was no hype around dis film &i dont undastand y!! a moving film produced by spike lee- famous produca of 'BOYZ N DA HOOD' and 'DO THE RIGHT THING'
Its a film 4 girls & boyz- with its romantic story line & basketball scenes- not 2 mention da hot & humorous bedroom scene wen they play strip ball! da soundtrak 2 da film is also heavy- with music frm MAXWELL. Mc LYTE & DONNELL JONES.
This story follows monica- a tomboy &quincy frm a young age wen they meet as friends until they fall in love. but r torn between priorities of basketball- & eachotha. inevitably yes they end up getting back 2geva at da end of da film but u hav 2 watch this film 4 ur self 2 fill the emotion!
Da only drawback of da film is that it will make you wish that ur boyfrend was as smooth as quincy & u will b envious of their 'perfect ending' wen they get back 2geva.
Anyone i hav made watch dis film has gone out & bought it- serious!!please watch dis film & even buy the soundtrak- this film never recieved the hype & credit (especially in the uk) that it deservd! and its not often u watch an african american love story- 4get da guns & drive bys!