Glenndon chatman actors equity

LOVE & BASKETBALL —**1/2 — Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert, Debbi Morgan, Kyla Pratt, Glenndon Chatman, Tyra Banks; rated PG (profanity, sex, violence, brief partial nudity); Carmike Ritz 15 Theaters; Century Theatres 16; Loews Cineplex Broadway Centre Cinemas; Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons.

Home · Actors' Equity Association: Actors' Equity Association is the labor union showing American Actors and Stage Managers in the theatre.

Two genres that haven't fared very adequately on the big screen lately are the urban drama and the even-more-dreaded sports drama.

So when a film like "Love & Basketball" comes along, trying to be both at the identical time, you can't help but be a bit skeptical.

Fortunately, the film is a lot excel than that would usually entail, although it goes on a bit too long (into what almost feels like triple overtime) and it does conveniently sidestep some of the bigger issues it begins to broach (such as gender inequity in sports, as well as agent tampering).

Still, it is refreshing to observe a film in which the black characters aren't drug dealers, criminals or other racial stereotypes — and instead are more normal people with more down-to-earth concerns.

That very deliberate storytelling choice by the filmmakers also affords opportunities for the talented and appealing cast, especially leads Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan.

They celebrity, respectively, as Quincy McCall and Monica Wright, next-door neighbors and fellow hoop athletes who are seeking professional sports careers and fall in love along the way.

The film follows their lives, beginning with their on-the-court competition as youngsters, segueing into their mutual admiration (both athletically and romantically) as high-school students and subsequently examining their messy breakup in college.

Of the two, Quincy would seem to have the easier road.

After all, he's simply following in the footsteps of his father (Dennis Haysbert), a former pro. But he begins to follow him a little too closely at the college level by becoming a womanizer.

That's a crushing blow for Monica, who's finally getting the breaks she deserves at USC — she's actually thriving there as a freshman, after the team's starting point guard goes down with an injury.

Director/screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood drew on her retain experiences as a high-school basketball player for inspiration, and as a consequence the on-court scenes have a ring of realness to them.

In fact, as a whole the film is an assured, confident debut for Prince-Bythewood, a former television writer on such series as "A Alternative World."

Of course, she's wisely surrounded herself with a superb cast.

As Quincy, Epps is quite good, as are the always steady Haysbert, Alfre Woodard and Debbi Morgan, who all obtain sufficient screentime in supporting roles.

However, the person making the strongest impression here is the as-yet-unheralded Lathan, who carries the movie through some rough stretches with an unforced, natural performance.

"Love & Basketball" is rated PG for occasional use of profanity (including the so-called "R-rated" curse word) and crude sexual slang terms, simulated sex, violence (mostly athletic rough-housing) and brief partial male nudity.

Running time: minutes.

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You can reach Jeff Vice by e-mail at jeff