The 1990s was a strange decade for filmmaking. There were so many films which were critically well-received at the time, financially unsuccessful, but achieved a cult status in the years and decades which followed. This has led to many works being re-appraised and consequently reaching a whole new generation of movie lovers. Giving them a fresh lease of life. This happened with Love Jones, which benefits from writing that was ahead of its time.
Darius (Larenz Tate) is giving a poetry reading at the Sanctuary, an upscale bohemian spot in Chicago. He tailors his love poem to Nina (Nia Long), a talented photographer who he met earlier at the bar. They meet again by chance but while his interest is clear, she’s reluctant to get involved. However, there’s undoubtedly a spark between them but neither wants to commit to a relationship. Something has to give.
Love Jones is one of those films which grows in stature the more you think about it. On the face of it, writer/director Theodore Witcher’s only film is a fairly standard romantic drama, but it works so well thanks to a script which is both sharp and believable and some very engaging performances. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does leave a lot more ambiguity and potential for individual interpretation. Which can only be a good thing.
Extras:
- New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Theodore Witcher, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- New interview with Witcher and film scholar Racquel J. Gates
- New interview with music scholars Mark Anthony Neal and Shana L. Redmond on the soundtrack
- Panel discussion featuring Witcher and members of the cast and crew
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by critic Danielle A. Jackson
Love Jones is released on Blu-ray in the UK as part of the Criterion collection on 25 April.
