"Vox Lux" Movie Review
In the mainstream, audiences were treated to the story of a talented, undiscovered woman who blossoms into a pop star in A Star Is Born. In Vox Lux, we have another story of a girl’s sudden rise to stardom. However, the circumstances leading to young Celeste’s ascent into the spotlight are far more distressing.
When Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) survives a horrific school shooting, her tribute song at the memorial is noticed by a producer (Jude Law), who puts her on a path to being a pop star.
Throughout the film, it seems that director Brady Corbet is trying to say something significant about tragedy and fame. But his filmmaking style is so unconventional that themes are left to be fleshed out in discussions following the awkward silence of the smash-cut to credits at the end.
While Vox Lux can be dark and dreary experience, the factor that literally and figuratively makes it dazzle is an exceptional performance from Natalie Portman in the second half of the film as a grown up Celeste.
The film and Celeste can be both beautiful and psychologically brutal. Portman’s exceptional performance is on point, but for me, the film itself is too off-beat.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 1 | Story and Message - 1 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 1 | What does this mean?