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| Courtesy of Relativity |
The
film tells the story of Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, in a star-making performance
worthy of a Best Actress nomination), the hip-hop industry’s next big thing. The
stunningly beautiful artist is probably more famous for her sexy stage antics
and barely-there wardrobe than her vocals, which explains why her hangers-on
seem to be more excited for her meteoric rise than she is.
It
all leads to a tipping point one night when Noni finds herself dangling from a
hotel balcony, trying to decide if she should let go. That’s when she’s pulled
back to safety by Kaz Nicol (Nate Parker), a young cop with a bright future. The
two fall for each other almost immediately, despite the protests from his
politically-minded father (Danny Glover) and her domineering stage mom (Minnie
Driver).
But
the two ignore everyone around them, choosing to decide for themselves what
their futures should look like. It’s the first time in their lives that they
realize they have such power, and it has a dramatic effect on their
relationship.
On
the surface, Beyond the Lights sounds like a cheesy soap opera you might find
on the CW – but that couldn’t be further from the film’s intentions. It creates
a far more authentic, compelling love story than audiences have grown to expect
from years of Nicholas Sparks-style cinematic junk food, and it also comments
on the troubling way the entertainment industry objectifies its female stars.
However,
Prince-Bythewood filters those observations through Noni and Kaz’s
relationship, meaning there’s no jarring stop so that a character can deliver
an expositional sermon to the audience. The result is a scorching romance
elevated by two stellar performers and strengthened even further with memorable
supporting actors.
Anything
I write about Mbatha-Raw’s work as Noni will sound like breathless hyperbole,
but she’s that good. It’s a shame that more people aren’t seeing the movie to
experience her career-defining performance. She’s fantastic at playing both the
empty shell of Noni’s hyper-sexualized persona, as well as the real person
underneath – the woman who can’t cope with how her life has turned out.
Parker
is good too, though his performance isn’t as showy since he’s the film’s most
stable character. I was also impressed with Driver and Glover as the
protagonists’ complex parents; they’re not the cartoonish villains that an
inferior screenwriter might’ve drawn them as. Instead, they are
well-intentioned people who love their children, even if they show it in
selfish, ill-advised ways.
Beyond
the Lights is destined to gain more attention when it hits DVD, iTunes,
Redbox, etc. in a few months. You should jump on the bandwagon early and catch
it while it’s still in theaters. Then, when you hear people wondering who the
heck this amazing actress is, you’ll already know the answer.
Beyond the Lights is rated
PG-13 for sexual content including suggestive gestures, partial nudity,
language and thematic elements.
Grade:
B+
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