Love & Basketball 🏀 + Oscar Predictions #2
Happy Thursday! If you live in New York City, there will be an emergency rally on Saturday in Washington Square Park protesting the violence again Asian-Americans in recent weeks. If you’re able and comfortable please come out and support!
Today’s movie is Gina Prince-Bythewood’s romance Love & Basketball. Despite cementing itself in pop culture in subsequent years, the semi-autobiographical film actually flopped in the box office. But what counts is where it’s at at the end of the game, and Love & Basketball certainly scored a homerun (sports!).
Childhood next-door neighbors Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) and Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) slowly fall in love over the years as they pursue their respective basketball careers through high school and college. [Trailer]
Why you should watch it: After its release, Love & Basketball has become one of the most known and admired romances that came out of the 2000s. However, even with its newfound reputation, it’s somehow still underrated. The movie is beautifully complex with layers upon layers of achingly human emotions in each of the characters. Prince-Bythewood’s direction is brilliant as it shifts you in and out of the characters’ POV.
At its core, the film is a deeply intelligent and subversive character study about dreams, love, relationships, gender roles. However, what makes the film great is its memorable and irresistible cast of characters — in particular, Lathan, Epps, Alfre Woodard, and Debbi Morgan, who hits buckets in every scene she’s in (more sports!).
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Runtime 124 mins
Year 2000
🏆 Oscar Predictions: Best Actress
In a twist from most years, Best Actress is a surprisingly sparse category this year. Instead, it’s difficult to come up with a convincing five nominees. Here’s my best shot. Click here if you missed my Best Picture predictions.
Frontrunners: Each of these actors has nabbed every precursor nomination they need to make the final five. Plus, their films are Best Picture contenders.
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Fighting for the final spot: There’s a huge gap between the frontrunners and the rest of the pack. There’s truly no indication of who will make the final list. Logic says Kirby, who was nominated at SAG, is locked in. Zendaya, who is on a roll after an Emmy win, could make a late-season play or Adams could sneak another nom.
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie
Amy Adams, Hillbilly Elegy
Dark horses: Han could sneak in if Minari is as beloved as we’re hearing it is. Loren and Pfeiffer are big names that could be blindly checked off.
Yeri Han, Minari
Sophia Loren, The Life Ahead
Michaelle Pfeiffer, The French Exit
Have a terrific weekend!
See you Monday —
Karl