Beyond the Lights

Name: Beyond the Lights
Genre: Drama
Released: November 14, 2014
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Danny Glover, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Machine Gun Kelly, Minnie Driver, Nate Parker

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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Beyond The Lights

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Movie Details & Credits

Relativity Media | Release Date: November 14, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Danny Glover, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Machine Gun Kelly, Minnie Driver, Nate Parker

Summary: The pressures of fame have music superstar Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) on the edge - until she meets Kaz Nicol (Nate Parker), a young cop and aspiring politician who has been assigned to her detail. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them who urge them to put their career ambitions ahead ofThe pressures of fame have music superstar Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) on the edge - until she meets Kaz Nicol (Nate Parker), a young cop and aspiring politician who has been assigned to her detail. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them who urge them to put their career ambitions ahead of their romance. But it is ultimately Kaz's love that gives Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be.… Expand

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 116 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Odie Henderson

Nov 14, 2014

Beyond the Lights makes unapologetically damning statements about the music industry’s treatment of women, yet it never feels preachy. It strikes a risky, though successful balancing act between being immensely entertaining as a musical feature and making dramatic, important statements about depression, self-worth and female empowerment. Read full review

William Goss

Nov 19, 2014

The relative restraint of Beyond the Lights is practically a godsend, presenting audiences with a fairy tale grounded in something resembling reality and fractured by external circumstance as much as internal doubts. Read full review

Gregory Ellwood

Sep 10, 2014

Mbatha-Raw is shockingly good in creating both the "Noni" public persona and the real Noni. Read full review

Kevin C. Johnson

Nov 13, 2014

Mbatha-Raw continues to be a true revelation in a role that could be not be any more different from her star turn in “Belle” this year. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Dec 15, 2014

Even when Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball) tries to pack too much around the edges (including critiques of record-industry sexism and the mechanisms of black political fundraising), the romance at the movie’s center remains credible and vibrant. Read full review

Geoff Berkshire

Sep 10, 2014

Beyond the Lights is a strange beast, a music-industry romance that alternates freely between wisdom and mawkishness, caustic entertainment-biz critique and naive wish fulfillment, heartfelt flourishes and soap-opera shenanigans. Read full review

Stephen Whitty

Nov 14, 2014

The people are pretty, the music scenes are well-staged (they're supposed to be crude and corny, right?) and we've needed a silly romance for a while now. But for all its hugs and kisses, the film refuses to embrace itself. Read full review

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User Reviews

Acclamation

Dec 30, 2017

This is a rare gem.

I didn’t expect it. It’s filled with great drama and characters and doesn’t have any politics. In a way, it’s the true story of everyone that has tried to lead the Hollywood life . . . And it’s a paradoy of that in the same way. The lead character does an amazing job,This is a rare gem.

I didn’t expect it. It’s filled with great drama and characters and doesn’t have any politics.
In a way, it’s the true story of everyone that has tried to lead the Hollywood life . . . And it’s a paradoy of that in the same way.
The lead character does an amazing job, and it seems, it’s lead her to other great projects. I really enjoyed the music too and I still go back to the film from time to time and watch portions of it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Indiefilmlover

Dec 2, 2014

First and foremost, "Beyond the Lights" is a sweet love story. Like "Love & Basketball" before, in "Beyond the Lights," Gina Prince-Bythewood uses a love story to make a comment on the role of women in the world. In "Love & Basketball" she was essentially commenting on the impact on women ofFirst and foremost, "Beyond the Lights" is a sweet love story. Like "Love & Basketball" before, in "Beyond the Lights," Gina Prince-Bythewood uses a love story to make a comment on the role of women in the world. In "Love & Basketball" she was essentially commenting on the impact on women of Title IX. In "Beyond the Lights" she uses the Noni Jean character to comment on the media's objectification of women (specifically women of color) and how to some degree women help perpetuate it. She makes these comments without being heavy handed or preachy. Once again Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who was recently seen in "Belle") gives a solid performance. The perfect date movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

chughead

Nov 24, 2014

Rhianna meets morals! If you want to see what drove Britney Spears to her downward spiral and made Miley 'the Twerk' Cyrus an overnite sensation then this will suffice. Far from being an ethnic film, its a complicated romance that meets nite and day. All about growing the hell up.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

TVJerry

Nov 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), who was assigned to protect her. Mbatha-Raw (bestUnlike 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ScribeHard

Dec 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 ranging from suicide to self-image, and from misogyny in rapBeyond 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kalifani

Jul 22, 2015

Very unoriginal, predictable, empty, and without depth. Wasted time watching this movie. Doesn't show any real meaning of a love. It's a cheesy romantic story.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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