Beyond the Lights
Beyond the Lights
In Theaters: Nov 14, 2014 Wide
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, suggestive gestures, partial nudity
and matures themes
Running time: 1 hr. 42 min.
Written and Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Genre: Drama
Distributor: Relativity Media
Film Review by Kam Williams
Very Good (★★★☆)
Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) has it all, or so it seems. After years of trying
to make it, the emerging pop singer is finally on the brink of superstardom,
thanks to several hit singles she recently released, duets with her famous
rapper boyfriend, Kid Culprit (Machine Gun Kelly).
Nevertheless, when we meet Noni in the midst of a whirlwind tour of
appearances on award shows, she’s secretly miserable and seriously
considering suicide. That’s because every step of her assault on showbiz has
been dictated by her abusive mother, Macy (Minnie Driver), the
proverbial stage-mom from Hell.
Noni no longer recognizes her real self in the mirror underneath the purple
hair extensions, the provocative wardrobe, and the phony smile that
masks the hard cold truth about a vulnerable soul at the end of her rope.
Then, just as she’s set to launch herself from the balcony of a penthouse
suite at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel, fate intervenes in the person of Kaz
(Nate Parker), the quick-thinking LAPD officer assigned to protect her from
the paparazzi and overzealous fans.
Springing into action, he grabs an arm and pulls Noni back over the rail.
Now that she has been afforded a second chance at life, one can’t help but
wonder whether she’ll wise up and declare her independence from her
miserable misanthrope of a mother? Or, will she notice that the right man
for
her might be the handsome hunk with bulging biceps who saved the day, even
if he’s not a rich celebrity like the unreliable bad-boy she’s currently
dating?
These are the foremost questions subsequently explored by Beyond the Lights,
a steamy romantic romp written and directed by
Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees and
Love & Basketball). Don’t be duped
into thinking that you’ve seen this same story somewhere before,
given how the plot is vaguely reminiscent of Whitney Houston and Kevin
Costner’s The Bodyguard (1992).
Beyond the Lights unfolds in unique fashion. This amorous tale of female
empowerment might be better thought of as an engaging blend of hip-hop
performances and soap opera drama that’s at its best when leads
Gugu
Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker generate beaucoup chemistry while sharing
the screen.
Love in the time of hip-hopera!