Watch Playas Ball

Playas Ball, released in 2007, is a crime drama film directed by Jennifer Harper. The movie is set in Los Angeles and revolves around a basketball tournament called the "Playas Ball," which is attended by drug dealers, pimps, and gangsters. The movie stars Allen Payne as Noah Cruise, a former basketball player who runs a charity team, Elise Neal as Sherry, Noah's sister who is dating a drug dealer, and Anthony 'Treach' Criss as Roscoe, Noah's childhood friend who is involved in a gang.

At the beginning of the film, Noah is approached by a group of businessmen who want to invest in his charity team. Noah agrees to meet with them, but he soon realizes that they have ulterior motives. The businessmen want Noah's team to lose in the "Playas Ball" tournament so that they can make money on the side bets they have placed. Noah refuses the offer and decides to enter the tournament to win it.

Meanwhile, Sherry is dating a drug dealer named G-Money, who is pressuring her to get involved in his business. Sherry wants to get out of the relationship but is afraid of G-Money's violent tendencies. She turns to Noah for help, but he is more focused on the tournament. Roscoe, who is also involved in the drug trade, has his own agenda for the tournament. He wants to use the tournament as a cover to steal drugs from a rival dealer.

As the tournament progresses, the tension between the characters escalates. Noah is determined to win, but he faces stiff competition from a team of professional players who have been hired by the businessmen. Sherry becomes increasingly desperate to get away from G-Money, and Roscoe's plan to steal drugs goes awry. The climax of the film takes place during the final game of the tournament, where all the characters' storylines converge.

Overall, Playas Ball is a gritty crime drama that explores the seedy side of Los Angeles. The movie has an ensemble cast of talented actors who give strong performances. Allen Payne is particularly noteworthy as the protagonist, Noah Cruise, conveying both his determination to win the tournament and his loyalty to his friends and family. Elise Neal also shines as Sherry, bringing depth to a character who could have easily been reduced to a damsel in distress. Anthony 'Treach' Criss provides some comic relief as Roscoe, but he also adds a layer of menace to the character.

The film's direction is solid, with Jennifer Harper maintaining a steady pace that keeps the audience engaged. The basketball scenes are well-shot and exciting, although they do take a back seat to the film's crime plot. The script, written by Datari Turner, is the movie's weakest point. The dialogue is often stilted or clichéd, and some of the characters' motivations are unclear. Additionally, the movie's themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption are not explored in great depth, leaving the viewer with a sense that there could have been more to the story.

Despite its flaws, Playas Ball is an entertaining crime drama that delivers on its promise of gritty action. The movie's strong performances and direction make it worth watching for fans of the genre.

Playas Ball is a 2006 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.