This weekend, she's bringing a new story to the big screen, and it takes us from the court to the stage with a mega pop-star at the center.
"Beyond the Lights" is a lot better than the corny title might suggest.
The feel-good tale about a beautiful singer will remind older moviegoers of "The Bodyguard," though it lacks the transcendent star power of the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. However, the chemistry between the two leads here in this new movie may actually be better.
The best of the film has a lot of heart, though what happens bears only a passing resemblance to the actual music business.
The director gets some of the details right, but the rhythms of the real deal are off. Fundamental rules of the industry are ignored to allow this fictional story to play out.
We're introduced to Noni as a young girl thrust into a talent-contest by her very pushy single mom.
Minnie Driver's stage mother has bushed her daughter to the brink by the time we see her next.
An L.A. cop in the form of Nate Parker saves her.
It's no surprise the two get together, transcending their differences in part due to their domineering parents.
Nate's dad is played by Danny Glover. At one point, he says, "You didn't meet her in a church pew, son. Church girls are the ones you gotta watch out for."
That line and others drew appreciative laughter at a screening I attended.
And when Nate took off his shirt, the sound was deafening.
Most critics like this movie. I enjoyed "Beyond the Lights" too, though maybe not as much because it's too long. Nonetheless, Noni's anguish and Nate's love for her seemed real, and when they share the screen, it's just shy of magical.