| Love Jones | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Theodore Witcher |
| Produced by | Amy Henkels Helena Echegoyen James Giovannetti Jr. Jay Stern Jeremiah Samuels Julia Chasman Michael Caldwell Nick Wechsler |
| Written by | Theodore Witcher |
| Starring | Larenz Tate Nia Long Bill Bellamy Isaiah Washington Lisa Nicole Carson |
| Music by | Darryl Jones Wyclef Jean |
| Cinematography | Ernest Holzman |
| Editing by | Maysie Hoy |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | March 14, 1997 |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10,000,000 (approximately) |
| Box office | $12,782,749 (Worldwide) [1] |
Love Jones is a 1997 American romantic drama film written and directed by Theodore Witcher, in his feature film debut. It stars Larenz Tate and Nia Long. Isaiah Washington, Bill Bellamy, and Lisa Nicole Carson lead the supporting cast. It is considered a classic work in African-American cinema.
"What do you do after love at first sight?" That's the question posed in this story set in Chicago. The independent film puts a modern spin on Modern Romance portraying two “confused lovebirds” that learn not to underestimate the powers of "a Love Jones". The story calls to question the powers of attraction and fate, as well as the possibilities of love at first sight. Moreover, it questions the roles of romance and love in contemporary society.
Two of the poems recited by Nia Long's character, Nina, were written by Sonia Sanchez and are included in her book Like the Singing Coming Off the Drums: Love Poems.[2]
Contents |
In Chicago, Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) is a poet who is giving a reading at the Sanctuary, an upscale nightclub presenting jazz and poetry to a bohemian clientele. Shortly before his set, he meets Nina Mosley (Nia Long), a gifted photographer who recently lost her job. They exchange small talk, and Darius makes his interest clear when he retitles his love poem "A Blues For Nina". A mutual attraction is sparked between them, and Darius invites himself back to her place to persistently ask her out. They have sex on the first date, but neither Darius or Nina are sure where to go next after this promising start. Nina has just gotten out of a relationship and isn't sure if she still cares for her old boyfriend or not, while at the same time Darius' buddies read him the riot act for wanting to give up his freedom so early on in the game. From then on, their relation and everything else change for both of them.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Larenz Tate | Darius Lovehall |
| Nia Long | Nina Mosley |
| Isaiah Washington | Savon Garrison |
| Lisa Nicole Carson | Josie Nichols |
| Bill Bellamy | Hollywood |
| Leonard Roberts | Eddie Coles |
| Bernadette L. Clarke | Sheila Downes |
| Khalil Kain | Marvin Cox |
| Cerall Duncan | Troy Garrison |
| David Nisbet | Publisher |
| Simon James | Roger Lievsey |
| Oona Hart | Model — Lievsey Studio |
| Jaqueline Fleming | Lisa Martin |
| Manao DeMuth | Nina's Assistant |
| Marie-Françoise Theodore | Tracey Powell |
Urbandictionary.com describes the term ‘Love Jones’ as “an overwhelming desire or attraction for someone”.[3] In the film, the character Darius Lovehall describes it as a “gravitational pull, rendering one helpless to its power”. A Love Jones is equivalent to being hit by cupid's arrow or love at first sight. It calls forth the idea that fate or divinity is responsible for bringing two people together.
Love Jones received positive reviews from critics and is considered a cult classic. It currently holds a 67% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
Roger Ebert awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars, and expressed "There is also a bow to the unconventional in the ending of his film. Many love stories contrive to get their characters together at the end. This one contrives, not to keep them apart, but to bring them to a bittersweet awareness that is above simple love. Some audience members would probably prefer a romantic embrace in the sunset, as the music swells. But Love Jones is too smart for that". He also noted on the acting that "It's hard to believe that Tate--so smooth, literate and attractive here--played the savage killer O-Dog in Menace II Society. Nia Long was Brandi, one of the girl friends, in Boyz N the Hood. Love Jones extends their range, to put it mildly".[4]
James Berardinelli also awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars for ReelReviews, and he determined that "There are several reasons why this film works better than the common, garden-variety love story. To begin with, the setting and texture are much different than that of most mainstream romances. The culture, in which post-college African Americans mingle while pursuing careers and relationships, represents a significant change from what we're used to. The Sanctuary, the intimate Chicago nightclub where Darius and Nina meet, is rich in its eclectic, bluesy atmosphere. And Love Jones's dialogue is rarely trite. When the characters open their mouths, it usually is because they have something intelligent to say, not because they're trying to fill up dead air with meaningless words".[5]