PARK CITY, Utah -- "love jones" is a zesty romantic comedy centering around two black artists struggling to make it in Chicago. Packed with pizzazz and radiating warmth, the film is a welcome tonic from the often grim fare that spews on the independent wavelength. New Line Cinema will wind select-site success with this hilarious and bittersweet battle of the sexes.
On the surface, "love jones" sounds like the concept of a sitcom: Struggling photographer Nina (Nia Long) and struggling writer Darius (Laurenz Tate) circulate in a common artistic world of problems and joys. Nina makes do as a glorified gofer for a fashion photographer, while Darius has garnered up the courage to finally quit his journalism job to write that great novel. In short, they're both career obsessed, and despite obvious personal attractions are not exactly looking for a full-time mate. In fact, they've both been underachievers in the romantic section: Darius is a cool, noncommitment type, while Nina just can't jam a serious relationship into her world.
In a series of comic confrontations and plot perambulations, the two begin to circle one another. In this regard, despite its hip hauteur, "love jones" is, basically, an old-fashioned romantic comedy. Credit writer-director Theodore Witcher for the breezy, funky fun. Tate and Long are a terrific romantic duo, while Isaiah Washington is similarly strong as Darius' surrogate older sibling.
Technical contributions are smooth, highlighted by Ernest Holzman's supple cinematography.
LOVE JONES
New Line Cinema
Producers:Nick Wechsler, Jeremiah Samuels
Screenwriter-director:Theodore Witcher
Executive producers:Julia Chasmas, Jay Stern, Amy Henkels, Helena Ecegoyen
Director of photography:Ernest Holzman
Editor:Maysie Hoy
Production designer:Roger Fortune
Music :Darryl Jones
Costume designer:Shawn Barton
Casting: Jane Alderman, Robi Reed-Humes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Darius Lovehall:Laurenz Tate
Nina Mosley :Nia Long
Savon Garrison:Isaiah Washington
Josie Nichols: Lisa Nicole Carson
Hollywood :Bill Bellamy
Eddie Coles :Leonard Roberts
Running time -- 105 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
On the surface, "love jones" sounds like the concept of a sitcom: Struggling photographer Nina (Nia Long) and struggling writer Darius (Laurenz Tate) circulate in a common artistic world of problems and joys. Nina makes do as a glorified gofer for a fashion photographer, while Darius has garnered up the courage to finally quit his journalism job to write that great novel. In short, they're both career obsessed, and despite obvious personal attractions are not exactly looking for a full-time mate. In fact, they've both been underachievers in the romantic section: Darius is a cool, noncommitment type, while Nina just can't jam a serious relationship into her world.
In a series of comic confrontations and plot perambulations, the two begin to circle one another. In this regard, despite its hip hauteur, "love jones" is, basically, an old-fashioned romantic comedy. Credit writer-director Theodore Witcher for the breezy, funky fun. Tate and Long are a terrific romantic duo, while Isaiah Washington is similarly strong as Darius' surrogate older sibling.
Technical contributions are smooth, highlighted by Ernest Holzman's supple cinematography.
LOVE JONES
New Line Cinema
Producers:Nick Wechsler, Jeremiah Samuels
Screenwriter-director:Theodore Witcher
Executive producers:Julia Chasmas, Jay Stern, Amy Henkels, Helena Ecegoyen
Director of photography:Ernest Holzman
Editor:Maysie Hoy
Production designer:Roger Fortune
Music :Darryl Jones
Costume designer:Shawn Barton
Casting: Jane Alderman, Robi Reed-Humes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Darius Lovehall:Laurenz Tate
Nina Mosley :Nia Long
Savon Garrison:Isaiah Washington
Josie Nichols: Lisa Nicole Carson
Hollywood :Bill Bellamy
Eddie Coles :Leonard Roberts
Running time -- 105 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 1/22/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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