By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Brady Corbet
Starring: Jude Law | Natalie Portman | Raffey Cassidy | Willem Dafoe
Country: united_states
Year: 2018
Running time: 110
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5960374/reference
Brett says: “VOX LUX is a demolition derby of themes that keep colliding after the initial premise is introduced. Just when the viewer thinks that he/she has a finger on what this movie is, another head-on impact from writer/director Brady Corbet jars us into a repositioning in our seats.
“The tale makes use of a haunting, ominous voiceover from Willem Dafoe that helps distance this film far enough from reality to have another worldly sort of impact. This choice may seem odd considering the fact that the film takes on a very startling and daring series of depictions of school gun violence, terrorism, and the perils of child stardom. These here-and-now controversies seem like a table-setter for what could be a neo-realist film, but VOX LUX mixes things up by feeling oddly enough like some sort of ironic, twisted and psychotic modern fairy tale even while incorporating quite a few ultra-realistic scenes.
“The buzz surrounding this film will no doubt center on leading ladyNatalie Portman for adding another standout role to her resume asCeleste, a Staten Islander turned eccentric adult national pop star reinventing herself on the music scene while simultaneously caving herself in after years of questionable personal decisions all caught in the public eye and covered by the media’s ever watchful gazes. WhilePortman will receive much of the attention for quite an ‘awards-baity’ portrayal, the heart of the film largely beats to the rhythms of Raffey Cassidy’s song. Double cast in the film as the protagonist of the entire first half of the film and then as the daughter of her older self (portrayed by Portman), Cassidy’s work really solidifies a cyclical theme that ties violence and fame and self-promotion all together as they extend themselves from decade to decade as each new generation inherits the same societal problems as the one before. It is actually a bit problematic to watch Portman as more of a caricature, clearly going for acting gold, while the Cassidy’s younger versionCeleste seems so much more nuanced and congruent with the film as a whole.
“Aside from Cassidy’s performance, what stands out is how eerilyCeleste’s story meshes music and school shootings and terrorism in away that seems stretched when discussing it but feels appropriate when experiencing it. Equal parts real and a sort of pop opera, Corbet somehow makes these two polar approaches work in a way that must be seen to be believed. There is no guarantee, however, that the bold shifts in tone will be an easy experience for everyone.
“Recommended for fans of Natalie Portman wanting to see another dimension to her acting range
“Recommended for fans of pop opera 3 cats“