I was at the world premiere today at the Toronto International Film Festival and just wanted to say that I thought the movie was really excellent. Definitely on par with the director's other works. It very easily could have fallen into being a schmaltzy typical chick flick love story type of movie but it doesn't do that. It is a fairly predictable love story but the relationship between the 2 main characters is great and feels authentic and emotionally truthful. They had a pretty strong, palpable chemistry together. You could see a real attraction between the two on screen and only adds to the intensity. Minnie Driver was great as well as Noni's driving, determined mother and manager doing everything she could to make her daughter a star. Not really an Oscar movie but good solid directing and screenplay and really great acting performances particularly from Driver, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and (the extremely handsome and delicious) Nate Parker.
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big_red7376 September 2014
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Saw Beyond the Lights starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, and Minnie Driver! "Noni" played by Raw grows-up with a dream to sing and when she finally gets to super-stardom, dealing with the pressures of fame, her Manager Mother "Macy Jean" played by Driver, and influences from the Rap Music Industry puts her over the edge until she meets her savior "Kaz" the cop played by Parker who puts her life back on track.
"Kaz" helps "Noni" retreat from her controlling manager mom, the paparazzi, and music industry to take some time to reflect upon where she came from until the very moment when her career took off. After a long struggle with her self-image, being told what to do and how to do it from her manager mother and record label, "Kaz" helps "Noni" gain the courage she needs to develop her own thoughts and voice which ultimately sets her free like a "Black Bird" to become the musical artist she was meant to be, instead of what others wanted her to be.
My cinema score is 8/10! This Romantic drama Film is a great date-night movie with so many important life messages regarding self-image, being happy, love & success, so take your boo to go see it! #maverickradio -
larrys33 March 2015After seeing Gugu Mbatha-Raw's performance in "Belle" recently and now viewing her rather dazzling screen charisma here, she would certainly seem to be a rising star.
She gives a superb performance as Noni Jean, a skyrocketing musical talent, living the fairy tale life of a superstar, being followed everywhere by adoring fans and relentless paparazzi. However, despite all the glitz and glamor, deep inside Noni is quite depressed and unhappy.
Her every move, both in her personal and professional life, is being controlled by her extremely domineering mother Macy. Minnie Driver is terrific in the role of Macy, being totally believable. Noni is so down that on the night she wins her first Billboard Award, she attempts suicide off of a hotel balcony, before being saved at the last minute by the police officer assigned for her security.
Nate Parker is also excellent here as the principled police officer Kaz Nicol who saves her life. He's also dealing with a highly controlling parent (Danny Glover), with his father planning out his life so he'll eventually run for political office and have a career in that field.
Noni and Kaz will begin to build a bond, but can these two souls living in two very different worlds overcome the pressures of their controlling parents, the media, and record companies to form a lasting relationship? Just a note for the viewers: there are a number of highly provocative and suggestive dance routines, from the first scenes onward, which have sexual connotations, plus one or two actual sex scenes in the film which are not explicit.
The very talented filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees) ably handles the writing and direction here, and I really felt I got a vivid feel of what it's like to be a rising superstar in that environment.
This is not a perfect film by any means, but the strong acting, appealing soundtrack, and a rousing and heart-felt finale win the day here. -
Red_Identity22 December 2014My feelings on this are basically just like every other person who saw it. It does have some biting, realistic insight into just how cruel and harsh the entertainment industry is, but the romance and the narrative are quite predictable. I probably actually enjoyed it more than my rating, but it's just way too formulaic and it's a shame when it started off better and it could've just been something more. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is really the best thing about it, delivering her all and giving even her most cliché of scenes life and passion. She's very charismatic and has a very strong screen presence, I hope she gets more roles after this because she would certainly deserve it.
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"Do you want to be a runner up, or do you want to be a winner?"
Fifteen minutes into Beyond the Lights and I was about to dismiss Gina Prince- Bythewood's film as yet another formulaic celebrity romance trying to be this generation's The Bodyguard. But after the story and the characters were introduced, I realized there was much more to the simple premise. This is a character driven film and despite the familiar premise the movie is carried by the wonderful performances from the cast and their well written characters. Gina uses a familiar tale but manages to give each character their very own identity and that takes the story to unfamiliar dramatic territory avoiding the common clichés found in modern romance movies. Bythewood made an impact in 2000 with her feature film debut, Love & Basketball and she followed the success of that movie with The Secret Life of Bees. Beyond the Lights is her third feature film, and it made such an impact on me that I want to see her two previous movies now. It's not easy to find intelligent romantic films nowadays with strong performances, so that makes me appreciate Beyond the Lights all that more for avoiding cheap clichés and deciding to focus on the characters and giving them depth instead of simply trying to deliver cheesy lines and force romantic moments. Every character in this film could've very easily played a stereotype, but Gina avoids it by giving each one of them their own moment.
Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is a young and talented British R&B singer who is on the verge of becoming an international super star thanks to her collaborations with rapper Kid Culprit (Machine Gun Kelly) with whom she shares a relationship with. On the night in which they win an important music award for their hit single, Noni tries to commit suicide by jumping off from the hotel balcony, but she's saved by the police officer who was guarding her room. Kaz (Nate Parker) is an honest cop who is trying to make a difference in his community and is aspiring to be a politician by following the advice of his father, Captain Nicol (Danny Glover), a well respected man in the police force. After the balcony incident Noni's mother and agent, Macy Jean (Minnie Driver) downplays the suicide attempt by telling the media that her daughter was simply drunk and therefore almost fell over the balcony. Kaz isn't happy about having to lie to the media, but he is more concerned about Noni not trying to get help because it is evident that the pressure has gotten to her, and her mother isn't helping by downplaying the issue. He gets close to Noni, and it is evident that the two have chemistry, but she doesn't seem like a good fit for his political aspirations given the latest scandals she's been in and the sexy image she's selling. At the same time he realizes that this isn't who she really is and that her mother and recording label producers are simply creating her image and not allowing her to have her own voice. When he discovers who she truly is, the two become romantically involved and the plot takes off from there.
Minnie Driver's character could have easily been one dimensional playing this mean and controlling mom/manager, but Gina avoids those stereotypes and gives her more room to work with despite how easy it is to dislike her for turning her daughter into this sex symbol product. This is just one example of how Gina decides to direct this character driven film giving each one a voice of their own. Another director perhaps wouldn't of included those small moments or conversations where we get a sense of why the character behaves in such a way.
Nate Parker delivers a solid lead performance as this credible and likable young man who is trying to make a difference in his community, but it's Gugu who steals every scene she's in. At first she seems to be playing a similar character to Rihanna, but once she finds her own voice her character goes through an impressive transformation. She gives an explosive and emotional performance and wins everyone over with her wonderful voice. There is a scene where she sings a cappella in an outdoor bar in Mexico that is breathtaking and gripping at the same time. My only complaint is that the film does lose some of its steam towards the end of the movie, but the time spent with each one of these characters still made this a very enjoyable experience.
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stevendbeard28 November 2014I saw "Beyond the Lights", starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw-Undercovers_t.v., Larry Crowne; Nate Parker-Non-Stop, Red Tails; Minnie Driver-About a Boy_t.v., Grosse Pointe Blank and Danny Glover-Death at a Funeral, Dreamgirls.
I was a little reluctant to see this movie and sadly, I was not disappointed. Of course, I am not the target audience, what with it being a chick flick, but I'll try my best to be objective. Gugu plays an up and coming pop singer. Minnie is the perfect definition of a stage mother-if you looked in a dictionary, you would see Minnie's picture beside the definition. You could say that Minnie wants Gugu's success more that Gugu does. One night, after winning an award, all the pressures of the pop star life and her mother's constant presence, Gugu drinks a little too much and tries to jump off a balcony. Luckily, the policeman that is assigned to her, Nate, is on hand to save her life, and of course, they fall in love as Nate tries to help straighten out Gugu and her problems. Danny plays Nate's father, who also is a policeman. If you like chick flicks, then this one is not too bad. Gugu does sing a few songs that are not too bad. Plus, how can you not like someone with a name like Gugu? It sounds like you are talking to a baby- Goo Goo-but she definitely doesn't look like a baby. It's rated "PG-13" for language and sexual content-including partial nudity-and has a running time of 1 hour & 56 minutes. Like I said, I'm not the target audience, so I would not buy it on DVD. However, if you are so inclined to chick flicks, it would be alright as a rental. -
a_sad_cow13 November 2014With the low IMDb rating, pop culture and romance, I was thoroughly expecting overused tropes, bad acting, and marginal writing. What I got was the complete opposite. I am not a fan of pop culture or romance movies but somehow these characters became very real for me.
In particular, I am impressed with the director's discipline. There are so many overused tropes that could easily have dominated the screen time. Instead, she hits her points and moves on.
The supporting cast was particularly impressive for their sheer believability. Hollywood too often takes the liberty "it's only a movie" or "it's Hollywood, we can totally do whatever". Instead, they stayed true.
This movie will go in my Blu-Ray collection when it finally comes out. The subtleties are impressive and worth revisiting. This is the second movie with a primarily romantic focus to achieve that honor. The first is True Romance. -
brchthethird28 March 2015I can't say that was ecstatic about seeing BEYOND THE LIGHTS because it just seemed like a 21st century update of THE BODYGUARD, but for what it's worth, despite being narratively uneven and weighed down with clichés, it still is a compelling portrait of what goes on behind the scenes of people who are in the public eye. It stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni Jean, a cookie-cutter pop star who specializes in the oversexed, over-produced crap that tops the charts these days. One night, after winning an award for her latest single, she attempts suicide but is saved by the officer (Nate Parker) assigned to protect her that evening. From that point, a romantic relationship develops between them as they each figure out how to break out of the mold that other people have tried to keep them in, and begin to think and act for themselves. On paper, that sounds pretty good generally speaking, the film does a good job exploring those themes. The real standout of the cast is Gugu Mbatha-Raw who brings a youthful quality and emotional honesty to a character who, initially, is asked to do a lot of degrading things for the sake of "image." Her mother, played by Minnie Driver, also does a great job as this domineering, controlling personality who micro-manages her daughter's life. One begins to wonder who exactly she wants the career and the fame for: her daughter or herself. It's because of these qualities that she is an extremely unlikeable character, yet there is one stripped down scene in which another, sweeter side is shown and you get a little back story on why she is the way she is. Nate Parker also acquits himself rather nicely, although he and his storyline about being an aspiring politician are mostly sidelined in favor of Noni, although to be fair she is the main character. It would have been nicer for the story to be a little more balanced in that regard, but the juxtaposition of his and Gugu Mbatha-Raw's characters was established well enough. Sadly, all is not well with the film. It succumbs to a lot of the narrative clichés that plague films revolving around music and romance. Fortunately, there is a segment about halfway in which a much-needed break is taken from it all, in which Noni and Kaz get some one-on-one time. There were also a handful of moments that made me laugh unintentionally, such as when Noni takes Kaz on his first flight and they make love to Beyonce's song "Drunk in Love." And then there's Noni's label partner and sort-of boyfriend Kid who was a collection of "white rapper" stereotypes who made me cringe every time he opened his mouth. Overall, the positive elements do outweigh the negative and the film delivers a satisfying story about being true to yourself.
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wisdombody724 February 2015I had never heard of this movie before a colleague recommended it and even then, had no intention of watching it. I was bored and watched it and MY OH MY was I pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! I thought it would be a cheesy movie but the story and actors were extremely believable. The addition of realistic award show backdrops added to the current condition of the music industry psyche. Soundtrack was lovely and I enjoyed hearing a current Amel Larrieux jam during such a touching scene. (Sidenote: Check out Ice Cream Every Day for more Amel gems!)
I HIGHLY recommend this movie to anyone interested in a combination of a love story and music. And if this helps, I wouldn't describe this as a chick flick at all - it has a universal appeal to anyone who stays current with the industry and knows how it can steal souls. -
bjarias27 April 2015This is a surprisingly good film.. with a reasonable storyline.. good casting/ acting.. above average production values... and a music score that fits the overall tone/ setting of the film. All in all, this is well done movie-making .. above most all others in the genre. There are not many surprises, but all else works, so that all time spent is fairly solid entertainment. And a couple of moments are truly special.. her rendition of Blackbird near the end is spellbinding.. few could do it as well.. casting her was genius. And kudos to the camera and editing crews.. seconds can make or break a good film. For romantic dramas from this year, this has to be considered one of the best.
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At one point in this cold mess of a movie, Noni's mother, played by Minnie, shouts, "You're a bloody cliché!" Bingo, Minnie, Noni, Gugu et al., you're ALL bloody clichés. There's the spoiled little pop star who has absofreakinlutely everything a girl could want, except true love and the will to live. There's the harridanish stage mom whose nastiness translates to excellent negotiating skills with music industry execs. There's the impossibly dull love interest - a cop who aspires to be a city councilman, just writing that made me yawn.
What made it a little bit interesting for me was the way the black characters were all good and the white characters were all either evil or incompetent. Me, I'm Italian; my grandparents came to the USA 60 years after the American Civil War ended, so you guys fight it out amongst yourselves, please. It was just nice to see the caucasians get theirs for a change.
Btw, the music doesn't even try to be good. -
whocanfind-379-48512315 November 2014This movie from start to finish was nothing short of amazing. Very here and now. Very real. Gugu and Nate Parker gives an exceptional performance in their roles. Even though I come from a very different life than Noni, I could relate to her feelings of not being seen or heard. I found myself feeling sorry for Noni, but wanting her so desperately to rise above all of it and find her own voice and embrace herself. I so appreciate how Gugu caused me as the viewer to feel every scene as if I am right there. I hope she continues to make great films. She was amazing in "Belle" and she surely did not disappoint in this one. Great job cast, writers, directors and producers of this film! I definitely plan to add this one to my video library when it comes out on DVD.
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santrisenicole14 November 2014I attended the film premiere in Hollywood and must say it exceeded my expectations.
I believe many people are looking for a reenactment of Love and Basketball with this offering and are in for a well-deserved awakening if this is their limited way of thinking. Love and Basketball is available for viewing and purchase worldwide and should not be brought to life again or camouflaged as a new film title.
Beyond the Lights caters to the core demographic whose interest is piqued by lifestyle and celebrity persona. I think its commendable the producer Gina was removed from industry for 14+ years yet still has a command for providing films that cater to her core demographic audience which evolved and transitioned tremendously since her last film contribution.
The chemistry between the main actors is explosive and effortlessly portrayed. While the storyline and progression is believable and engaging considering the subject matter and my own experiences working in the field of music.
There was a scene I found cheesy but looked around and noticed others crying and applauding at the exact same moment. So, the film arouses many emotions and only great writing and acting usually evoke this type of crowd interaction.
The overwhelming theme is one about love and the sacrifices individuals make if they are earnest and honest in pursuit of it. It secondarily touches on themes that deserve attention in a larger context such as suicide, the pressure of fame, and more.
I would highly recommend this film to young adults and mature audiences alike as it lastly touches on themes regarding generational differences and divides. -
Seraphion25 November 2014The story focuses on Noni, an British female R&B singer of mixed race parents who struggled against a heavier burden of competition with the racial prejudice on her. Now all grown up, she has made it in the USA, a famous and successful singer, now the girlfriend of a famous rapper. But she feels she's only being taken advantages of and not being considered as a person. After winning an award one night, she instead tries to commit suicide by jumping from her apartment balcony. A police officer Kaz, who was replacing a friend for a bodyguard detail, steps in and helps her from falling. Although Kaz initially avoids Noni because he was forced to lie at a subsequent press conference, they eventually become close. Kaz convinces Noni to be more courageous and stand up for herself, to have her boyfriend treat her better, and to insist that her songs be included in her next album. She musters up courage and softly breaks up with the rapper. Noni and Kaz then hook up and become a couple.
But at a performance, the rapper comes on stage and humiliate Noni. Kaz goes on stage and eventually punches him on camera. Kaz's father scolds him for that due to it will damage Kaz's reputation for an upcoming candidacy at an important office. Kaz ignores it and helps to smuggle Noni out of the press' attention. They then go to have some time alone down in Mexico. Noni really enjoys the situation where she's not known and can roam freely without photographers following her. But her mother finds their place. She convinces her to finish the album promo, despite Kaz's disagreement. Noni goes back to attend a recording label meeting about her album. She demands her songs to be put in it, to the disapproval of the label. Noni then declares she resigns from the label, also discharging her mother from the position of her manager. She then goes back to to UK to perform. Kaz goes there and meets her in the back- stage, where he confirms his love for her. Noni continues on to her performance, singing her own new song instead of the one requested on her.
For me the story only has slightly less than adequate appeal to it in overall. The story isn't that strong in total. Even the emotional parts of it don't seem to hit the spot right. The background story is quite moving, but development of Kaz's background and his dilemma between of the position is quite strange. The rest of the other characters beside the two main characters are also not really developed well. Noni's mother has a significant portion to the story but we don't really see much of her in substantial story screen time. The opposite happens to Kaz's father, who has more than enough screen time despite his more insignificant role in the story.
Yes this movie can quite grasp the drama aspect that it targets. All those emotional content are well built on the foundation of the racial prejudice thing and even on the gender inequality thing later on. But truthfully, that's just it. The romance that should be another nice focus for this movie doesn't seem to be a good attention grabber. I really think this movie should be developed even way more better before it's realized.
The acting overall falls slightly below my expectations. For such an emotional aim of the story, the acting quality is not really that good. Gugu Mbatha-Raw doesn't seem to realize that she has so much close-up shots on her that she doesn't showcase a great variation in facial expressions, even in the music video and stage performance scenes. Nate Parker is as similar, his face is dominantly flat in all conditions of the scenes. Having Minnie Driver and Danny Glover doesn't help at all in raising the acting quality overall.
For me, a 5 out of 10 score is just enough for this movie. It sure can be a better entertainment provided that the story development doesn't just leave this undercooked tale like this and the direction can lift the acting better. -
BkDc4 March 2015This was a very refreshingly enjoyable movie. The two main characters are unique and have great chemistry. The story steps out of the cliché famous star/bodyguard/police story and actually draws the viewer into a romantic journey that we take with the characters. Being from the romantic genre, I was skeptical at first concerned it was going to be just another romantic movie without any substance but this movie is a credit to the romance genre in that it is truly inspirational and is well worth the watch. The two main actors are fantastic and I would definitely recommend this movie to those who love a good romance movie that has substance and heart. I really enjoyed this movie.
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SenorLengua28 March 2015First, let's get this right – very few of use writing reviews really know what it's like when the stars are off stage. We can take any number of movies or TV shows/episodes or magazine articles or books and try and extrapolate, but we don't really know. Anything we watch, like this movie, is still truncated fantasy. So I will not speak of how realistic this movie is about being off stage.
Ultimately, this movie is a love story, and for those of you who have seen Begin Again, there will be some familiarities, even down to some of the movements and looks from Kiera Knightly mimicked by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. But, this is a different, more complex story, and comparisons are certainly unjust. Within this movie, there are issues of sexual expression and exploitation in the entertainment industry. There are issues of domestic violence (two aspects), interracial relationships (two), parent-child relationships (two), the inability to hide from fame (different aspects), and, of course, the drama surrounding two people entering a relationship. (This is another issue not mentioned here that is a major theme/component to the movie, but not in IMDb description. It is probably mentioned in other reviews, but this is a non-spoiler review.)
With so many different aspects, not to mention that Nate Parker plays a Black police officer in the LAPD, it is difficult to deal with any one in any depth. But Gina Prince-Bythewood does quite well at addressing them (though I wish she would have delved into the race issues more) with a bit more than surface tension. None of them do get the depth they deserve, but this happens with stories that try to address different issues. Whatever the critique, none of the issues disrupt the story, and with one or two exceptions, are not really overly dramatized.
As for the performances, we must pay attention to Gugu Mbatha-Raw. As she did in Belle, with a quality cast, here she performs with excellence, most notably playing many scenes with Minnie Driver. Her performance had depth that feels natural in its entirety, in a way that her co-star, Nate Parker (also good), was not quite as natural. Minnie Driver is who she is, and when she is damning, she is a force. Here she is somewhat restrained by the role, but when she released, she is lets fly, both subtly and with force. The other major actor is Danny Glover, who has been able to find his place with supporting actor roles as he ages. And here, he does very well, at times, seeming to push Nate Parker along.
While I would have liked this movie to delve into the exploitation aspect, and even do some examination of the race issue in music, particularly Black, female performers, there were lots of in- betweens and unspokens mixed with movements and expressions, mostly by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, that lets us know that any greater exploration of these (or others mentioned above) would take this movie close to the 3 hour mark. As is, at nearly 2 hours, it flowed well that it didn't seem like 2 hours. And even though the love story aspect is filled with clichés, those clichés are mixed with in with other, more complex aspects. Even the most glaring cliché for me – the road trip – was obvious in many, many ways, the craft of the direction and craft acting made it easy to forgive, and easy to forgive all the other love story clichés.
Recommended, mostly for a quiet evening. If one has kids, especially young or middle teens, this is worth watching with them and having discussions about exploitation of females (not just in visual entertainment, as this movie does show).
One final note that will be missed by most – sorry people – White reviewers, is the issue with Black females and self-identity. There are several moments in this film that address it, and as a White reviewer, I can only speak of it because I work in a predominantly Black community and discuss such issues. But, again, as it was there and easily missed speaks to the craft of the movie. More power to Misses Prince-Bythewood and Mbatha-Raw. -
Movies about big stars who suffer a crisis of conscience are not exactly rare, but not exactly standard fare either. My fave is PURE COUNTRY with George Strait, and I reviewed it for the IMDb.
What is rare is taking that formula and mixing it into a rom-com. That involves a degree of daring on the part of the producers -- and, no coincidence, there are about a dozen individuals listed as producers in this film. That folks is courage in numbers.
Even the length is daring. The flick runs almost two hours and these days only the largest production companies have the nerve, or the dollars, to go to full length.
But, as I said, nerve is something this film has plenty of.
Does it pay off? If you want me to tell you this is a polished gem, sorry, it is anything but.
But if you are looking for something memorable and entertaining, you have come to the right place.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw -- a name that is hard to forget -- really works the part. Her performance raises this film far above the current IMDb rating. (She is helped by EXTRAORDINRY H&M,ie, hair & makeup, which in turn makes the transition from regular person to Rap Star all that much more startling).
Minnie Driver, usually a standout, is lost here. In fact, pretty much everyone plays second fiddle to Gugu Mbatha-Raw, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, that is precisely why I recommend the film. -
It's refreshing that Beyond the Lights delves into social commentary criticizing the music industry for over sexualizing most of its female artists and exploiting the image of sex sells and the artists' creative control on their own music and image is shelved away because the music executives believe they won't be as successful because of it. And how it depicts the music industry as being greedy and how fame, press, and PR stigmatizes and demeans addressing real mental health issues celebrities/public figures have. Gugu Mbatha-Raw gives another captivating lead performance as Noni and her chemistry with Nate Parker, police officer Kaz, is pleasant but there's a certain ingredient missing to the overarching romance between these two main characters. Yes, there's substance and drive for their romance together (he sees her authentic identity past the fame and she loves him because he's not famous and he's down-to-earth etc. It just feels like the way the romance and love story gets stale before the end credits show up. That is faulty screenwriting and no indicator of the presence of lack of chemistry the actors have which they don't have this problem. Additionally, the last half's plot device conflict is so shoehorned in it was like written in as an afterthought and really lowers the impact of the two characters reconciling and reuniting at the end. Despite this, Beyond the Lights is a recommended romance drama film for a one-time watch.
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misschocolate7914 November 2014I had a chance to see the screening of Beyond the Lights a few weeks ago in Tallahassee, Fl. This movie was a breath of fresh air. I haven't seen a complete love story that I can relate to in one way or another. This movie was very realistic and was very relate-able.
The movie walked you through Noni's life from the time she was a child to the time she was an artist. It made you feel as if you were in that moment with her. There were some parts of the movie that made you smile and cheer and then the note so happy moments - all the emotions needed when viewing a great movie.
The writer Gina Bythewood and Nate Parker were at the screening and participated in a Questions and Answers session after the movie screening. I really appreciate the interaction with the viewers and the ability to answer every single question in great depth. I am still impressed. Go out and support this movie. You will not be disappointed. -
ArchonCinemaReviews22 February 2015Part love story, part drama, and all music industry realness, Beyond the Lights is the modern day The Bodyguard with better looking actors.
Gina Prince-Bythewood writes and directs Beyond the Lights – her most recent film project that weaves love and ambition.
Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is on the path for super-stardom – featured on several tracks with top rapper Kid Culprit. She's playing the game, being notorious and selling an image and even has the token Mom-ager (Minnie Driver), but creatively feels like she is drowning. Unable to cope she tries to jump off a balcony when her police protection for the evening Kaz (Nate Parker) rescues her. There is an instant attraction and connection and as Noni searches to find the courage to break free from the music industry's control she finds herself gravitating more and more to Kaz.
Despite the glitz and glamor and mirage of the entertainment industry being the setting for the film, Beyond the Lights is a relatable story of finding love and independence. The similarities between Prince-Blythewoods creations and films like The Bodyguard is striking but what sets Beyond the Lights apart is inherent chemistry between Mbatha-Raw and Parker along with the top notch acting and direct plot line.
Both Nate Parker and Gugu Mbatha-Raw and captivating, commanding the audience's attention and near daring them to be bored enough for their minds to wander. Of the two, Mbatha-Raw is superior and perfect in playing a music darling with 'it'. Nate Parker tries to match his co-star's innate acting ability but occasionally falls short, lacking range in his facial expression and defaulting to a generically pained grimace for most 'negative' emotions.
Of course, Beyond the Lights is a romantic film so it does periodically dip into predictable and sentimental. But, none of the drama is drawn out and writer/director Gina Prince-Blythewood smartly focuses on her well formed characters rather than the events that surround them.
Please check out our website for full reviews of all the recent releases. -
Garbage. There was no grounds for the romance between Kaz and Noni. We see why she was drawn to him -- who wouldn't be? Such a stand-up guy -- but what in the world did he he see in an overwhelmed-by-fame-and-an-overbearing-mom pop sensation?
First problem: editing. The opening scene shows a mom (Macy) watching her daughter enter a talent competition. Cut to second scene, where same mom is now managing a pop sensation. For all I knew, the child who had won 1st Runner Up in the talent contest is still a child, waiting at home for her entertainment agent mom. There is no clue that the pop sensation is the now-grown child. I still hadn't figured it out when Macy demands that Noni promise her she won't try suicide again. Give me on screen captions containing dates, years, something!
The musical numbers are embarrassingly trashy. The only interesting thing was discovering that Minnie Driver is a Brit, as I'd only seen her in one other role, Return to Me (also a waste of time), where I seem to recall she played an American. She had me fooled. She also has begun to resemble Mary Tyler Moore.
Don't waste your time. -
dannabhinton16 November 2014This movie was a surprising treat. Very well acted, great on-screen chemistry, and a decent plot. This movie to some degree has elements of your typical boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl scenario. This is not to discredit the plot in anyway, however, the plot of this movie has great substance.
I appreciate the fact that the movie didn't just rest on the main plot of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl scenario. The sub- plot was very intriguing. I enjoyed the director/writer's exploration and vivid illustration concerning the exploitation of females in the music industry. Very raw, very unapologetic and thought provoking.
Although, the beginning of the movie the plot felt a bit rushed. Very early in the movie the writer places her audience in a very emotional and pivotal scene (Noni on the balcony). However, the scene would've been a little more powerful had the audience been given more time to understand the complexity of the main character.
I am a proponent for African American film to progress in a positive direction. This director/writer of this movie has the goods and I'm eager to see what else she has up her sleeve. -
mariannevd4 August 2020The story isn't too surprising, but the two leads have so much chemistry that it didn't feel cheesy at all. The characters show growth, but in a way that makes it feel real and natural.
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I resent the people who think this is a chick flick. Maybe it is but I'm a 30 year old woman and was not impressed. I really wanted to like this film having heard such great things about but it was so boring. One cliché after another. Kid who wants to be a star? Check. Over bearing stage mom? Check. Mental breakdown? Check. Guy who comes to save the day? Check. Nothing original about this film. You've seen it many times before. All the attempts to Make us think fame is not as great as it seems fall super flat and the main character just comes off ungrateful. There's really only one incident in the whole film that makes you feel sorry for her. I don't know what else to say about this film. Forgettable. The one stand out is Minnie driver who i didn't know could play such a bitch. Well done! (Also backstory would have been nice. Was dad black? Was she adopted? That also really bugged me the whole film)
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ladyann12138 July 2015This was a tremendous movie not only with the song lyrics but the making behind the movie. Gugu plays this to a tee and she is a fine upcoming actress I hope makes it in the movie world. But it is all about the meaning "between the lines"! You must pay attention to the very beginning and the dialogue to understand the rest. However, the meaning of life is showing who you are, and being proud of it...and if you are afraid of being the "real you" it may take the "love" and "compassion" of a stronger force to bring it out in you! This movie should appeal to both genders but I know every women globally would enjoy it! It brings tears of joy streaming down one's cheeks! Congrats Gugu and Nate for a brilliant performance by both of you! LadyAnn68