Love & Basketball

REVIEW
Uneven but definitely worthwhile, Love & Basketball follows two friends from their first meeting as eleven-year-olds, through their tumultuous dating period, to being lovers in college and pursuing careers in the NBA. Both aspire to be brilliant basketball players, and struggle to reconcile their ambition with their relationship. The film begins awkwardly, and, unfortunately, doesn't really get a foothold until the two get to college, when our rooting interest deepens considerably. The two leads are quite good, and there's a terrific supporting cast led by Haysbert and Woodard. For all its flaws (overlength being another), Love & Basketball is still manages to be entertaining and satisfying.