A romantic comedy about starting over again and again, love jones hilariously
examines the battle of the sexes by asking whether the third time's a charm.
Struggling photographer Nina Mosley (Nia Long) and struggling writer Darius
Lovehall (Larenz Tate) have a lot in common. Passionately committed to
her art, Nina is fed up with her job as an office gofer for a fashion photographer,
and Darius has quit his job at The Chicago New City to write a novel.
But these two aren't exactly prime candidates for a serious love affair.
Darius the ladies' man is trapped by the perpetual coolness of his presentation,
and silky smooth when it comes to concealing vulnerability. As for Nina,
who was recently jilted by her fiancee Marvin (Khalil Kane), she doesn't
believe that a relationship fits into her life right now.
They meet at the Sanctuary, a local haven where poetry is the prime draw,
and a favorite night spot for Darius and his friends Savon (Isaiah Washington),
Eddie (Leonard Roberts), Sheila (Bernadette Clark) and Hollywood (Bill Bellamy).
In an awkward introduction at the bar, Nina catches Darius off-guard, and
uncharacteristically, he fumbles and spills his drink on her. He recovers
minutes later when called to the stage to recite one of his poems. He makes
the most of the moment by calling his sensuous creation "Blues for
Nina."
Flattered but embarrassed, she informs him in front of his friends that
there are topics for poetry other than sex. When he asks her to name one,
she writes the word "love" on his hand. Everyone is impressed
-- particularly Darius.
When he runs into Nina at a record shop managed by his friend Sheila (Bernadette
Clarke), Darius seizes the opportunity by playing her a tender rendition
of "Parker's Mood." Then, on the sly, he gets her address off
a check she has written.
Later he appears at her door with a CD featuring the song she was looking
for at the record store, and his charm does the rest. She agrees to go
out on a date. A romantic evening of conversation and dancing leads to
a passionate night at her apartment.
The next morning, Darius and Nina confide in their respective best friends
Savon and Josie that, in spite of the incredible sex, "It ain't no
love thing." Unfortunately, these aren't exactly the best advisors
they could have found -- Josie is down on men, and Savon is having his own
problems with his eight-year marriage.
But Darius is getting interested. He even reveals to Nina the sacred location
of "the Batcave" (his apartment), where she uses her camera for
some interesting foreplay and the romance moves forward.
Then, out of the blue, Marvin shows up asking Nina for a second chance.
At Josie's suggestion, Nina uses the offer to test Darius: Will he be
jealous, or coolly let her go? Darius pretends not to care, and Nina moves
to New York to see if she should resume her relationship with Marvin.
Inevitably, Marvin and Nina's differences are irreconcilable and Nina returns
to Chicago. She hopes to reconnect with Darius, only to learn that he has
settled in with a new girlfriend, Lisa (Jaqueline Fleming). Enter Hollywood,
whose friendly competition with Darius is exemplified by pursuing the same
women. Sensing a prime opportunity at one-upsmanship, Wood stops by the
portrait studio where Nina now works to cheer her up.
Tensions run high when Wood invites Nina to a party also attended by Darius.
Feeling like a pawn in a bad game of male egos, Nina angrily leaves and
Darius follows her. It's their first meeting since she went to New York.
She confesses she still has feelings for him, and he assures her that Lisa
means nothing to him. Swooning, they make up and head for a date at the
famous Blackstone Hotel.
There, legendary Chicago DJ Herb Kent is hosting the annual "steppers'"
ball, featuring the inimitable dance style popular in Chicago. On the floor,
Nina and Darius become a team again. They complete the evening with a romantic
walk around Buckingham Fountain.
Soon after, everything starts to fall apart. Nina finds Lisa's telephone
number in his datebook, and hang-up calls start coming in to his home.
The issue of trust surfaces. They split amidst hard feelings.
When Nina gets a job offer from Vibe Magazine, she decides to move back
to New York. Josie, serving as a reluctant Cupid, intercedes by telling
Darius of Nina's plans. He takes the cue and makes a valiant effort to
talk to Nina before she leaves. Racing through Union Station, he just misses
her train.
A year later, his book has been published, her career is off and running,
and Nina has been sent to Chicago to shoot a Michael Jordan layout. Looking
in vain for Darius at the Sanctuary, Nina takes the stage to recite a poem
of her own. Startled, Darius turns and listens to her recital, which is
about love remembered. "Funny what you can do in front of a room full
of people," she says, "and can't do in front of one person."
Copyright 1994-2008 Film Scouts LLC
Created, produced, and published by Film Scouts LLC
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