Vox Lux
Starring: Natalie Portman, Raffey Cassidy, Jude Law
Directed by: Brady Corbet
Rated: R
They wanted a show, so she gave them a show.
Celeste’s whole life has been a tragic and provocative show that the masses have claimed as their own. At just 14, she was a victim in a horrific school shooting. She made her way through the tragedy by writing a song that quickly became a hit. Catapulted to stardom, Celeste embarks on a rollercoaster career.
With Vox Lux, director Brady Corbet delivers a bold, love it or hate it film that takes aim at the glittery void of the music industry. Set in 4 different acts titled Prologue, Genesis, Regenesis, and Finale. On the surface, these titles look as though Corbett has structured the story around Celeste’s ascension to stardom. However, he is actually telling the story of a soul’s degradation through an excessive industry that only takes.
The film has many interesting themes, most notably fame in today’s society. In this age of instant fame, there’s no limit to who can achieve stardom. The school shooter responsible for Celeste’s greatest tragedy can obtain the same amount of headlines as she can for her greatest musical triumph. Violence plagues the framework of our society and weaves its way through Celeste’s life. She’s powerless to stop it. One thing’s for sure, she won’t be taken down. She makes sure, no matter what happens, she’s in it for the long game. Celeste admits to her daughter there are many times she assumed her career was dead. Her music has declined in quality. But she has the most important secret weapon: an angle. In order to succeed in the industry you have to have an angle. Celeste continues to reinvent herself with a fresh angle, making sure she’s relevant to the public.
Sharing the role of Celeste, Natalie Portman and Raffey Cassidy shine.
Raffey Cassidy plays the character in the first act of the film. Through the first two acts, Celeste is a timid girl who has just endured an unfathomable trauma. She is dealing with grief and attempting to come to terms with a potential music career. As the world around her changes rapidly, she changes too. She becomes more confident and wild. If the world around her is going to be so wildly unpredictable, maybe she will be too.
As time leaps forward, Natalie Portman plays the older Celeste. She is like a “reborn” image of the character. She is wild, loud mouthed, and frenetic. There’s no predicting what she’ll do at any moment. The character is plagued with alcoholism and PTSD, but she craves the spotlight. Portman portrays the character with a manic energy, frequently throwing fits and losing her temper at a moment’s notice. But when it’s time for her to go on stage, she is the pitch perfect pop star. (Clearly modeled after Britney and Lady Gaga) This is very different from anything I’ve seen Natalie Portman do, but she nails it.
Vox Lux is an arthouse film unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. It’s a portrait of a pop star who’s about to plummet to rock bottom. It’s social commentary on the dangers of pop culture. It’s a haunting look at how trauma effects its victims. Overall, Vox Lux is a 21st century allegory for the dark side of fame.
My Rating: 9/10