Love & Basketball (2000)

Director:

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writer (WGA):

Gina Prince-Bythewood (written by)

Release Date:

21 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

A story of the passion it takes to keep your dreams alive.

Plot:

In 1981 in L.A., Monica moves in next door to Quincy. They're 11, and both want to play in the NBA, just like Quincy's dad...

Plot Keywords:

Male Stripping | Housewife | Los Angeles California | Homesickness | Scar

Awards:

10 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Glenndon Chatman	...	Young Quincy
Jess Willard	...	Jamal
Chris Warren Jr.	...	Kelvin
Kyla Pratt	...	Young Monica
Alfre Woodard	...	Camille Wright
Naykia Harris	...	Young Lena
Harry Lennix	...	Nathan Wright
Debbi Morgan	...	Nona McCall
Dennis Haysbert	...	Zeke McCall
Sanaa Lathan	...	Monica Wright
Omar Epps	...	Quincy McCall
Colleen Matsuhara	...	UCLA Coach
Al Foster	...	Coach Hiserman
Nathaniel Bellamy Jr.	...	Highschool Referee #1 (as Nathaniel Bellamy)
Regina Hall	...	Lena Wright

Also Known As:

Love and Basketball (USA) (closing credits title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36989) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Germany:6 | Spain:T | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Goofs:

Factual errors: Some of the High School players were wearing numbers that are illegal in high school basketball. In High School basketball you can't wear any number with a 6,7,8 or 9 in it.

Quotes:

Camille Wright: I don't know why I keep wishing that you'll grow out of this tomboy phase.
Monica: I won't. I'm a lesbian.
[her sister cracks up]
Camille Wright: That's not funny.
Monica: That's what you think, is it? Because I'd rather wear a jersey than an apron?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Tracey Fragments (2007)

Soundtrack:

My Prerogative

love & basketball & family & gender roles &...

I was watching a Lakers games when I first saw a commercial for Love & Basketball, so naturally it was comprised of mostly basketball action and a snippet of an adult version of the b-ball game HORSE. I thought, "oh, cute movie about a guy and girl who play basketball and get together". Not exactly earth-shattering, I thought, but cute. So imagine my surprise when I saw the film start like a cute movie but then evolve. And deepen. And bloom. I laughed, I sat on the edge of my seat in anticipation, and I swear I almost cried. A "cute" movie? This film had levels I hadn't dreamed of and spoke to so much more than just sex and basketball, and yet all of it was held together cohesively by the love affair and the commitment to the sport. I was thoroughly impressed by the performances all around and by Ms. Prince-Blythewood's unerring writing and direction. A definite recommendation.