Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Love & Basketball Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 14, 2021

Gina Prince-Bythewood's "Love & Basketball" (2000) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include new programs about the making of the film; two archival audio commentaries; deleted scenes; short films; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Challenge accepted

Los Angeles, 1981. Ten-year-old Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) and Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) meet on the basketball court and shortly after become friends. Because they live next to each other the two spend most of their time together, like a pair of siblings, and quickly develop an unusually strong bond. Both genuinely love the game of basketball and dream of representing the area’s most prestigious college teams, but initially their no one seems to take their aspirations seriously.

While in high-school Quincy and Monica earn reputations of being fierce competitors on the basketball court, but the latter’s temperament becomes so problematic that it often hurts her team. Nevertheless, their talent is so obvious that eventually both are accepted in USC. While Quincy and Monica’s priorities remain the same, at this point it is already clear that their love for each other is a lot stronger than their love for the game of basketball.

But the temptations of college life gradually begin to push Quincy and Monica apart, and eventually, after making some very poor decisions, they hurt each other in ways that make them question the legitimacy of their relationship. Around the same time, after his family begins to fall apart too, Quincy makes a decision to go to the NBA, which effectively ends his relationship with Monica.

While Quincy represents the Lakers and his name routinely begins to appear on the main sports channels, Monica signs a contract with Barcelona and moves to Spain. For a while they both seem to be doing well, but when an awful injury threatens to end Quincy’s career fate reunites them.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Love & Basketball is a lot easier to like as a romantic film than a sports films. To be perfectly clear, there is nothing wrong with this, but it is a point very much worth underscoring because one of the most popular criticisms about it is that it should have been conceived in a way so that the opposite is true.

By placing the spotlight on the evolving romance between its two stars, Love & Basketball actually offers a pretty decent summation of the type of sacrifices aspiring young athletes and professional athletes must consider while going through different phases of their lives. Some are small, some are big and with lasting consequences, but ultimately, they are both part of the same process that would determine how successful they become.

The other thing that Love & Basketball does quite well is make it clear that the long road to success is covered with booby traps that can instantly weed out the naïve and careless. The film even argues that age or experience may not be crucial factors, which of course isn’t at all surprising. Why? Because success becomes attainable only when those that pursue it understand its value and how to protect it. This is the very reason why Quincy’s father (Dennis Haysbert), a former NBA player, compromises their relationship in practically the same way his supposedly inexperienced son does his relationship with Monica -- the understanding and appreciation aren’t right.

Unfortunately, the pacing of the film is very inconsistent and as a result it often feels like Prince-Bythewood is going through scripted situations rather than following the natural progression of Quincy and Monica’s relationship. Additionally, the quality of the writing could have been better. Some of the exchanges, and particularly those involving the parents, feel oddly incompatible with the dilemmas that are fueling the drama.

The soundtrack utilizes a fine mix of classic and contemporary R&B hits. Amongst them are Al Green’s “Love and Happiness”, Marvin Gaye’s “After the Dance”, Roger’s “I Want To Be Your Man”, Guy’s “I Like”, and New Edition’s “Candy Girl”.

Love & Basketball Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Love & Basketball arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The release is sourced from a very beautiful 4K master. On my system delineation, clarity and especially depth were so impressive that I genuinely wonder whether the film could look substantially better in native 4K. I would be shocked if it does because the visuals are so nicely balanced and so healthy that I simply do not see where meaningful improvements can be made. Better color balance? Possibly, but the existing ranges of lush primaries and supporting nuances are already outstanding. Even darker areas, where typically certain nuances can appear slightly suppressed, already look fantastic. Fluidity is excellent, too. The entire film is spotless. Lastly, I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Love & Basketball Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless audio track is terrific. I had the volume of my system turned up quite a bit and the clarity, sharpness, and dynamic contrasts were exceptional. Of course, this should not be too surprising given the fact that Love & Basketball is a very recent film, but I think that someone actually did some pretty special work when the original soundtrack was finalized. There are no audio dropouts, distortions, or other similar anomalies to report in our review.

Love & Basketball Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Athletes an Artists and "Love & Basketball" - in this new program, Gina Prince-Bythewood and WBNA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes and writer-producer-actor Lena Waithe discuss Love & Basketball and how it was made, its impact, and basketball's ability to inspire. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Editing "Love & Basketball" - in this new program, Gina Prince-Bythewood and editor Terilyn A. Shropshire recall their collaboration on Love & Basketball. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Playing for Your Hear: The Making of "Love & Basketball" - in this new program, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan, Alfre Woodward, writer and producer Reggie Rock Bythewood, and basketball adviser Colleen Matshuhara discuss the genesis of Love & Basketball, the production process, some of the key dilemmas its protagonists face, and some of the ways in which basketball can impact and even shape up attitudes and personalities. In English, not subtitled. (39 min).

• Trailer - vintage trailer for Love & Basketball. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Short Films - presented here are two short films directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. A new, filmed introduction is included as well.
  
  1. Introduction. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).
  2. Stitches (1991). In English, not subtitled. (32 min).
  3. Progress (1997). In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Auditions - presented here is pre-production footage from 1998 with tests featuring Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Kyla Pratt, and Glenndon Chatman. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Deleted Scenes - presented here are eight deleted scenes with optional commentary by Gina Prince-Bythewood. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Sanaa Lathan in 2000.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Gina Prince-Bythewood, editor Terilyn A. Shropshire, and composer Terenece Blanchard in 2000.

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Roxane Gay's essay "For Your Heart" and technical credits.

Love & Basketball Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Do you think that without the serious injury Quincy would have given Monica a second chance? I doubt it. Most likely he would have followed his father's steps and eventually mismanaged his success in a very similar way. The game of basketball can help a lot of young people see their dreams come true, but it can also irreversibly alter and even profoundly damage their lives if their understanding and appreciation of success are not right. While this may not be the most obvious message that emerges from Love & Basketball, I think that it is the most important one. Criterion's release is sourced from a very beautiful exclusive 4K master, so do not hesitate to upgrade. RECOMMENDED.