Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker Shine in Beyond The Lights!!!

Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker Shine in Beyond The Lights, one of the best romantic dramas that we’ve seen this year. Like its predecessor Love & Basketball, Lights tells a story of finding one self.

B+

Review: Trip Ricci

Beyond The Lights is one of the best romantic dramas that we’ve seen this year. Like its predecessor Love & Basketball, Lights tells a story of finding one self. It explores the world of over exposure in the music industry and how artists like Rihanna, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga face to stay on top by selling sex and possibly singing music they don’t believe in. 

In the film Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is the hook on Eminem type rapper named Kid Culprit played by (Richard Colson Baker pka MGK)  (he’s slimy) and proves it because she is sleeping with him for tracks. On the biggest night of her life she feels like she is suffercating and having a hard time with the pressures of fame and all she has to endure. That’s when she meets the sexy Kaz Nicol (Nate Parker – Non-Stop, Arbitrage, The Great Debaters, Red Tails and the upcoming Eden). Immediately Kaz Nicol, a young cop and aspiring politician who has been assigned to her detail is drawn to her and they fall in love fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them. Her label is against her new love and her mom Macy Jean (Minnie Driver) is the Kris Jenner type mom who will do anything to make her daughter famous, no matter what the cost. She pimps Noni out with no remorse. It’s an updated version of Against All Odds meet The Body Guard. In the film they save each other and finds love when they both least expected it. 

The movie is spectacular, the story is well written and acting is on point. It’s everything you want in a romantic drama that makes you want to watch this movie over and over again. The film has a strong message that speaks to everyone and that is what makes this movie so great. 

We are trying not to be a spoiler alert about this film, but unlike the Aaliyah biopic the cast for this film was smart, cleaver and intelligent. Kas and Noni’s onscreen chemistry was perfect and the film moves quickly and informative. We never saw any unnatural movements in the film. In the world of romantic films Beyond The Lights stands front, as do the actors who played Kaz’s and Noni.

Not only that the film has a strong soundtrack filled with great music, especially the theme song written by the legendary Grammy and Golden Globe winner and six-time Oscar nominee, Diane Warren and sung by the divine Rita Ora. 

Not only are we recommending you to head out to support the film because we know you’ll love it, we would like to introduce you to the soundtrack which is a MUST BUY for the holidays.  Like the movie the Soundtrack tells the romantic story, which is a plus in our book. 

Here is the announcement Relativity Films released to us:

1. On Monday, November 10th with the lead single from the Soundtrack, titled “Grateful” performed by platinum selling artist Rita Ora:

has released the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Relativity Studios’ newest film, Beyond The Lights,

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which features songs from artists such as Mavado featuring Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora and Jacob Banks. To order a copy of the Beyond The Lights Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, please visit the iTunes store at Beyond The Lights:  iTunes.com/beyondthelight.

Beyond The Lights was directed and written by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and produced by Stephanie Allain, Ryan Kavanaugh, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Reggie Rock Bythewood.

Beyond The Lights Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Track Listing:

1. Blackbird – India Jean-Jacques
2. Masterpiece – Noni featuring Kid Culprit
3. Extraordinary Love – Stacy Barthe
4. Lights And Camera – Yuna
5. Give It All To Me – Mavado featuring Nicki Minaj
6. C’mon Boy – Kid Culprit featuring Noni
7. Fly Before You Fall – Cynthia Erivo
8. Just Girly Things – Dawin
9. Private Property – Noni featuring Kid Culprit
10.Shelter – Birdy
11. Worthy – Jacob Banks
12. Blackbird – Noni
13. Grateful – Rita Ora

For more information on Beyond The Lights, visit the film on Facebook and on Twitter.

Beyond The Lights opened in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 14th.