Beyond The LightsPosted by Wilson Morales
It’s been a while since a black romantic story was presented on the big screen by a story. Either we are seeing the start of slave films since “12 Years a Slave” won the Oscar or a number of ensemble films with the success of “Think Like a Man.” Finally, here comes Gina Prince-Bythewood’s newest film, “Beyond The Lights,” a delightful, enjoyable romantic drama filled with terrific performances by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker. While there may be a light comparison to Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard, “Lights” is just as appealing and powerful as the former.
Starting off in London, we’re introduced to Noni Jean as a child competing in a talent contest and while she’s amazing singing Nina Simone’s “Blackbird,” she doesn’t come in first place, which infuriates her manager mom Macy (Minnie Driver) to the point where she has Noni throw away her runner-up prize. No one remembers second place winners.
Years later in the US, Noni is upcoming singer who just won a Billboard award as part of a duet with her rapper boyfriend Kid Culprit (Machine Gun Kelly). While basking in the glow, everything becomes overwhelming to Noni and she decides to jump off the balcony hotel. That is until she is saved by a young police officer named Kaz (Parker), who’s being groomed to be a politician. At a press conference following her near-death, Noni denies any suicide rumor with Kaz backing her cover story.
Reluctant at first to give him the time of day, and despite the reservations of her mom, Noni and Kaz eventually fall hard for each other. He becomes her bodyguard and boyfriend at the same time. Things seems to be going until she refuses to seek help for why she almost committed suicide. With his career starting to brighten and her career ready to take off, can their love survive the outside forces that’s pulling them in different directions.
While the story seems somewhat predictable with the typical boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back scenario, it’s Prince-Bythewood’s direction that’s different from similar films. Just like her classic “Love and Basketball,” the dialogue here feels natural and keeps the audience entertained. Not only that, but Mbatha-Raw, who broke out earlier this year in Amma Asante’s “Belle,” gives an outstanding and completely different performance. Matching her is Parker as the intelligent, charismatic upstanding law man ready to fight for love. Together they present a great chemistry that fans are rooting for. Also standing out is Minnie Driver, who hasn’t had a big juicy role in some years.
Overall, Beyond the Lights is an appealing filled with good performances, good musical numbers and a killer soundtrack.
