Love Jones

1997

Love Jones

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

67%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 15

Love Jones Photos

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Movie Info

What do you do after love at first sight? That's the question posed in this romantic comedy-drama set in Chicago. Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) is a novelist who is giving a reading at the Sanctuary, an upscale club presenting jazz and poetry to a bohemian clientele. Shortly before his set, he meets Nina Mosley (Nia Long), a woman who is a gifted photographer, despite the fact that she just lost her job. They exchange small talk, and Darius makes his interest clear when -- on the spot -- he retitles a love poem "A Blues For Nina." A mutual attraction is sparked between them; soon Darius finds Nina's address on a check and shows up unannounced at her apartment, a visit resulting in a photo session that turns seriously sexy. So far, so good, but neither Darius or Nina are sure where to go next after this promising start. She's just gotten out of a relationship and isn't sure if she still cares for her old boyfriend or not, while Darius' buddies read him the riot act for wanting to give up his freedom so early on in the game. Love Jones was the debut feature for African-American writer and director Theodore Witcher; Isaiah Washington, Bill Bellamy, and Lisa Nicole Carson lead the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating:

R (adult situations/language)
Genre:

Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed By:

Theodore Witcher
Written By:

Theodore Witcher
In Theaters:

Mar 14, 1997 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jul 27, 1999
Runtime:

110 minutes
Studio:

New Line Home Entertainment

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Cast

Larenze Tate

Larenz Tate
as Darius Lovehall

Nia Long
as Nina Mosley

Isaiah Washington
as Savon Garrison

Lisa Nicole Carson
as Josie Nichols

Khalil Kane

Khalil Kain
as Marvin Cox

Leonard Roberts
as Eddie Coles

Bernadette L. Clarke
as Sheila Downes

Bill Bellamy
as Hollywood

Cerall Duncan
as Troy Garrison

David Nisbet
as Publisher

Simon James
as Roger Lievsey

Oona Hart
as Model

Jaqueline Fleming
as Lisa Martin

Manao Demuth
as Nina's Assistant

Marie-Françoise Theodore
as Tracey Powell

Reginald Gibson
as Himself

Kahil El Zabar
as Percussionist

Darryl Jones
as Bassist

Teodross Avery
as Saxophonist

Everette Dean
as Porter

Benjamin LeVert
as Savon's Son

John M. Watson Sr.
as Tiki Room Bartender

William E. Yancey
as Sanctuary Bartender

Ernest Perry Jr.
as Male Model

Helena Echegoyen
as Woman on Train

Malik Yosef
as Himself

Troy Borisy
as Taxi Driver

Michelle Poole
as Kissing Woman

Kevin Bell
as Kissing Man

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Critic Reviews for Love Jones

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (5)

The two leads click throughout in a movie that's just good enough to engender curiosity over filmmaker Witcher's follow-up effort.

Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/4

USA Today
Top Critic
Larenz Tate, who played a homicidal in Menace II Spciety and haunted Vietnam vet in Dead Presidents, became an important transitional figure in the new black middle-class cinema, beginning this film, in which he's cast as a sophisticated and urbane man

Jan 24, 2007 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
An uncommonly smart and insightful look at relationships while delivering the requisite laughs and romantic heat.

Sep 18, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
love jones strives to be smart and sophisticated, which isn't exactly the same thing as intelligent ...

Jan 23, 2003 | Rating: C-

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette