Beyond the Lights (DVD REVIEW)
Beyond the Lights
DVD Review by Kam Williams
Gugu and Nate Generate Beaucoup Screen Chemistry in Steamy
Romance Drama
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 are generating
beaucoup screen chemistry together.
Love in the time of hip-hopera!
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated
PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, suggestive gestures, partial nudity and matures
themes
Running
time: 117 minutes
Distributor:
Fox Home Entertainment
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Blu-ray
Extras: Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Gina Prince-Bythewood,
Tami Reiker, and Terilyn Shropshire; Escape to Mexico 2.0; Changing the
Conversation; Gary Theard: Boom Man; Commentary by Gina Prince-Bythewood,
Tami Reiker, and Terilyn Shropshire; "Masterpiece" music video;
theatrical trailer; and a Digital HD version.
To
see a trailer for Beyond the Lights, visit:
To
order Beyond the Lights on Blu-ray, visit:
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