Hello! Welcome to the FREE Monday newsletter where I give you my unsolicited movie recommendations! This week, we’re diving into some romantic classics – one new to me, and one I love more than almost anything.
Mississippi Masala
Mississippi Masala is one of those movies I’ve been meaning to watch for years. Whenever I know I’m going to like a movie, I have this tendency to put it off – it’s always gonna be there, I’m pretty sure it’ll be awesome. What’s the rush?
Well, the rush is, this movie is perfect, and 10 times better than I thought it would be. Mississippi Masala is not only a stellar romance with electric chemistry between Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury, but also a fairly nuanced portrait of family, immigration, racism, and so much more. I knew what I was getting myself into with the romance aspect (I’d seen the phone call scene before, which you can see a section of here), but I didn’t expect the rest.
Love & Basketball
The more I watch Love & Basketball, the more I’m certain that Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) is one of the best movie characters to ever grace our screens. I love her, and if I’m being honest with myself, Quincy McCall (Omar Epps), particularly in his college years, does NOT deserve her!
But Monica and Quincy’s ebb and flow is what makes Love & Basketball so special. I’ve seen plenty of critiques of Quincy’s character over the years (and parsed through quite a few of my own), but I think part of the genius of Gina Prince-Bythewood’s script is how organic Quincy’s reaction to the end of his parents’ relationship – and, subsequently, his reactions to Monica’s focus on basketball – feel. He’s an asshole, and you’re upset with him, but the movie is able to bring Monica and Quincy back together because the evolution of both characters over the course of their lives and the film feels so true. By the time he says, “Double or nothing?,” I’m all in. And crying.
Thanks for reading! There will be no Friday newsletter this week - everyone enjoy your Fourth of July weekend!
I agree with you on putting off Miss Mas for way to long - its Denzel for f.. sakes. L&B is another one.
Listen if a movie makes You cry - then I'm all in. Get back to you on these. Speaking of movies that make me cry - finally sat down and watched "The Judge" last night. Downey, Duvall, D'Onofrio all D's and all brilliant actors. So many movies - so little time .
You can't imagine what seeing Mississippi Masala was when it 1st came out. I've had the pleasure of once working for Mira Nair. A talent and a goddess.