Post by klep on Mar 1, 2021 11:08:08 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 3/1: Love & Basketball
ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID WEEK!
Young Quincy MCall (Glenndon Chatman) is playing basketball with his friends when he meets Monica Wright (Kyla Pratt) for the first time. When her game shows itself to be better than his, he gives her a shove. Later we see him working on an elaborate apology card, and they become fast friends - but the combativeness still remains as Monica refuses to give up any independence.
It's a first quarter that does a fantastic job establishing the pair's dynamic, even though the actors are replaced with Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan as their grown selves for the rest of the film. In the second quarter they haven't admitted their feelings for each other yet, but it's clear they share a closeness that goes beyond mere friendship. They show up to each others' games, believe in each others' dreams, and are their for each other in times of need. But after they do get into a relationship and head to college together, the same problem rears its head - on some level Quincy expects Monica to put him first, and it leads them to split.
Love & Basketball is a film that loves and understands its characters and treats them fairly. It's always kind to them, but also doesn't hesitate to call them on their shit. It's critical of Monica for losing her cool in games, but also understands that she faces a sexist double standard about appropriate behavior. It doesn't excuse Quincy's atrocious behavior towards Monica that leads to their split in college, but it is understanding of the emotional turmoil that impacted that behavior. It's highly critical of Quincy's dad Zeke (Dennis Haysbert) cheating on his mom, but also knows that Zeke's love for his son is real and that his cheating isn't the entirety of who he is. When Monica finally confronts her mom (Alfre Woodard) over giving up her dreams to be a housewife, the scene carefully navigates the complicated decisions and sacrifices a woman with career aspirations (particularly one at that time - the film is set in the mid 80s to early 90s) faces when having a child - making neither of the two a clear winner of the argument.
In the end Quincy and Monica find both each other and some kind of acceptance of lessons from their more difficult parents. Monica realizes that basketball stopped being fulfilling for her because Quincy wasn't there, and a major leg injury inspires Quincy to go back to school like his dad always wanted (ACL tears aren't necessarily career-ending, but given that Quincy seems to have been struggling in the NBA it may have been that for him anyway).
And Quincy learns another lesson too. While his days of balling professionally are over, that doesn't mean Monica's are, and he learns to let her put her own dreams first. When the WNBA starts up a few years after they get back together, he's there on the sidelines with their toddler cheering mommy on.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 3/8: Meshes of the Afternoon
SURREALISM WEEK!
For Surrealism Week we'll be watching this 1943 short from director Maya Deren about a woman drifting between dreams and reality and unsure where the boundary is. Be sure to join us next week for our discussion of Meshes of the Afternoon, available here: vimeo.com/218042283
ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID WEEK!
Young Quincy MCall (Glenndon Chatman) is playing basketball with his friends when he meets Monica Wright (Kyla Pratt) for the first time. When her game shows itself to be better than his, he gives her a shove. Later we see him working on an elaborate apology card, and they become fast friends - but the combativeness still remains as Monica refuses to give up any independence.
It's a first quarter that does a fantastic job establishing the pair's dynamic, even though the actors are replaced with Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan as their grown selves for the rest of the film. In the second quarter they haven't admitted their feelings for each other yet, but it's clear they share a closeness that goes beyond mere friendship. They show up to each others' games, believe in each others' dreams, and are their for each other in times of need. But after they do get into a relationship and head to college together, the same problem rears its head - on some level Quincy expects Monica to put him first, and it leads them to split.
Love & Basketball is a film that loves and understands its characters and treats them fairly. It's always kind to them, but also doesn't hesitate to call them on their shit. It's critical of Monica for losing her cool in games, but also understands that she faces a sexist double standard about appropriate behavior. It doesn't excuse Quincy's atrocious behavior towards Monica that leads to their split in college, but it is understanding of the emotional turmoil that impacted that behavior. It's highly critical of Quincy's dad Zeke (Dennis Haysbert) cheating on his mom, but also knows that Zeke's love for his son is real and that his cheating isn't the entirety of who he is. When Monica finally confronts her mom (Alfre Woodard) over giving up her dreams to be a housewife, the scene carefully navigates the complicated decisions and sacrifices a woman with career aspirations (particularly one at that time - the film is set in the mid 80s to early 90s) faces when having a child - making neither of the two a clear winner of the argument.
In the end Quincy and Monica find both each other and some kind of acceptance of lessons from their more difficult parents. Monica realizes that basketball stopped being fulfilling for her because Quincy wasn't there, and a major leg injury inspires Quincy to go back to school like his dad always wanted (ACL tears aren't necessarily career-ending, but given that Quincy seems to have been struggling in the NBA it may have been that for him anyway).
And Quincy learns another lesson too. While his days of balling professionally are over, that doesn't mean Monica's are, and he learns to let her put her own dreams first. When the WNBA starts up a few years after they get back together, he's there on the sidelines with their toddler cheering mommy on.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 3/8: Meshes of the Afternoon
SURREALISM WEEK!
For Surrealism Week we'll be watching this 1943 short from director Maya Deren about a woman drifting between dreams and reality and unsure where the boundary is. Be sure to join us next week for our discussion of Meshes of the Afternoon, available here: vimeo.com/218042283
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 3/2: Jean de Florette
CW: Gerard Depardieu
Next week the podcast kicks off a pairing on families moving to the countryside for a fresh start. First up is Claude Berri's 1986 film Jean de Florette, about a man who inherits a farm and - to the dismay of a powerful local vintner - decides to move his family there and take up farming. Join us Wednesday for our discussion of Jean de Florette, available for rent on Amazon.
CW: Gerard Depardieu
Next week the podcast kicks off a pairing on families moving to the countryside for a fresh start. First up is Claude Berri's 1986 film Jean de Florette, about a man who inherits a farm and - to the dismay of a powerful local vintner - decides to move his family there and take up farming. Join us Wednesday for our discussion of Jean de Florette, available for rent on Amazon.