Beyond the Lights

Relativity Media | Release Date: November 14, 2014

6.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I found this film overall a bit too predictable and even cheesy - mostly from a moralistic standpoint, in as much as the tale of a stage mum pushing her child, without her necessarily fully recognising it, has certainly been done before.

Seeing where she went and things made me think of Amy Winehouse, while other aspects of the main character made me think of Rhianna, mostly in terms of looks early on in the film (after the initial scene of her as a child). There are some nice songs played, if your ok with listening to some hip hop type music as well. The Nina Simone song Blackbird is mentioned and sung more than once in this film and I can't say I was aware of it beforehand - it was certainly a poignant song.

The performances are ok and its not a really bad film to watch as such but it felt a bit too preachy in terms of the obvious moral story side of things and I feel similar tales have been covered by multiple other Hollywood films, so to me this film didn't really stand out as such. Its not a bad film but its certainly not a great one either. Distinctly average. Would I recommend it? no, not as such due to what I just said.… Expand

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ScribeHardDec 16, 2014

Beyond the Lights wants to be this generation's The Bodyguard - that music-heavy romance between two unlikely people that may or may not be destined for greater love. It even has the potential to be better than that. With issues rangingBeyond the Lights wants to be this generation's The Bodyguard - that music-heavy romance between two unlikely people that may or may not be destined for greater love. It even has the potential to be better than that. With issues ranging from suicide to self-image, and from misogyny in rap to mixed-race relationships, and from paparazzi to politics, the film is positioned to go to greater depths in any of these areas in an effort to tell a better story. Instead, it prefers to wallow in shallow gloss of the imagery its own subject falls victim to.… Expand

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TVJerryNov 26, 2014

Unlike the typical "Star is Born" framework, this film starts as the young singer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is already tormented by her fame. It's not a music industry plot at all, but a love drama about her attraction to a young cop (Nate Parker),Unlike the typical "Star is Born" framework, this film starts as the young singer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is already tormented by her fame. It's not a music industry plot at all, but a love drama about her attraction to a young cop (Nate Parker), who was assigned to protect her. Mbatha-Raw (best known as the black beauty in "Belle") takes on a very different role as this Rhiana-type sexy singer and she's completely compelling, not to mention she can sing! Parker has plenty of leading man charm (not to mention that body). The story starts with music biz glamor, but the slowly turns into a romance. Luckily, the actors handle it well, even as it deteriorates into predictable mush.… Expand

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