Hey guys, I wrote a one page persuasive essay on Love and Basketball and why people should see it. Could you guys tell me what you think? Thanks!

All's fair in love and basketball…… Whether you're looking for exciting on the court action, for a deep and poignant drama, some clever moments of humor, or for just a movie that explores relationships and love in ways that you can surely identify with in one way or another, Love and Basketball will both entertain and may even enlighten. Made in early 2000, the film is just as powerful as ever. Though Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan do extremely good jobs with there roles, the supporting cast is also very strong, and includes Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert, and Debbi Morgan.
Though there are many things that make this a great movie, I believe that the one that made me love this movie so much was how it affected me on a personal level. The first 40 minutes of the movie really nail high school life in some ways. If you've ever loved something, be it a person, a sport, or a goal, I think you will be able to identify with this movie too. There were many moments in the ups and downs of relationships between parents and there kids, between coaches and pupils, and between lovers that I think are very real and true, the types of things that you expierience all the time. In one of the most subtly well made scenes of the movie, Omar Epps hears his parents screaming at each other, knocks on the window of his neighbor and friend, and sleeps instead in there room. There are small moments like this that in my opinion make this one of the best dramas, romances, or any movie I have ever seen. Showing both the sweet and the sour of these relationships, the movie manages to always keep us entertained and excited to see what happens next without seeming sugar coated or overly sentimental. The fact that the movie doesn't become over-the-top and too dramatic also made it seem more real to me.
The story is a universal one that many will understand and know: Starting in 1981, the movie shows a 12-year old Quincy Jones playing basketball with his friends in Baldwin Hills, a good neighborhood in Los Angeles. That warm day, some new neighbors move in, with a kid there age. Her name is Monica, and she's so much a tomboy that at first the other kids think she's a guy. They play a pick up game of b-ball, Monica makes a shot, and after a small fight Quincy likes her. In the innocent way 12 year olds ask each other out, he asks, "Do you wanna be my girl? We can play ball and ride to school together and when you get mad I gotta buy you flowers." She says she doesn't like flowers, but she kisses him (they count to five). The next day, he wants her to ride to school on the handlebars of his bike. She however wants to ride her own bike. This is symbolic for the pattern that they share throughout life.
Throughout high school, they both are great basketball players, and still know each other, but as friends. However, when they go to the school dance, despite both having dates, the only people they're looking at is each other. Soon afterwards, they both go off to college at USC together. There relationship has it's ups and downs. Monica feels like her aggresivenes being penalized is something that would be rewarded on the mens team, and at times Quincy feels like Monica isn't there for him. This is part of one of the movies main themes: You can be in love or play basketball, but doing both at the same time doesn't always turn out as we like. Eventually, they're both in the pros, though Monica is in Spain and Quincy is in the US. Though in a movie like this it is only natural for them to meet up again and figure out what they really mean to each other, it doesn't make the material in the movie any less powerful. However, the relationship between Monica and Quincy is not the only one that is well explored and thoughtfully laid out.
Both Quincy and Monica have tough scenes dealing with there parents, in one case with ones infidelity and in another a difference in social life and personal beliefs. While these could have been boring and stitled, they only seem very real and quietly mature.
Though there are many more wonderful things about Love & Basketball, to say them all would ruin the expierience of the movie. All I can say is that you should see it for yourself, and even if you are not as moved as I was from this film - and I can guarantee that some of you will be - you will definitely enjoy it. Whether you're looking for a romance, a comedy, or a drama, Love and Basketball sinks it.

I have not seen the movie, but I like it. You have a really good writing style. I think you have a great flow, and you express yourself well. One mistake I caught is the three times you misspelled "their" as "there". You misspelled "aggressiveness" as well. I'm not an expert, in fact I've never given anyone advise on a paper, save my siblings and a few friends. But, I would structure a few of the sentences differently. For example in the sentence: "There are small moments like this..." I would delete "There are". Just my opinion. :wink:

But, generally, very well written IMO. I like it.

Moviedude, when is this paper due?
I have to go to court this morning, but I could edit for you this afternoon. I use to be a newspaper editor before I became a lawyer. I'm pretty good at this kind of thing. Ask Mike Q., I helped him with a paper. If you have time before you turn it in, I'll do a full edit for you this afternoon.

Damn, I thought it was due Friday, not Tuesday... ah well. Thanks for the comments though guys. I don't have a spell/grammar check, thus a few errors in there.