Sunday, June 28, 2015

Beyond the Lights 2014


Beyond the Lights


     Noni Jean and her manager mother Macy Jean have lived on the sidelines until Noni’s singing career started to take off.  She has won a Billboard Music Award for her work and her debut album has not been released yet.  She is heading for super-stardom but she feels no one is really seeing her.  She’s lost herself along the way and she nearly falls from a hotel balcony.  Kaz Nicol is a Los Angeles policeman and he saves her.  The media goes into a frenzy over the apparent suicide and her hero.
     Macy Jean is looking for personal respect for herself from her daughter’s career.  She should to be on her daughter’s side but she’s thinking about her own needs.  Kaz knows Noni needs help but Macy Jean doesn’t think there is anything wrong?  Kaz’s father is pushing him to have the life he didn’t have.  This film has a typical story but the characters draw you in and you aren’t sure where this is going.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

116 min, Drama directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Machine Gun Kelly, Danny Glvoer, Darryl Stephens, Elaine Tan, Isaac Keys, Tyler Christopher, Benito Martinez.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, 81% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*.
Special Note:  Gugu also starred in the movie Belle.  Her first name in Zulu means our pride.  She grew up in West Oxforshire, England.  Gina, the director was born in America and her birth name was Gina Maria Prince.  






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