VOX LUX Review

Vox Lux (2018) 

A Review By Ben Hunter

5/5 Stars 

GET TO THE POINT BEN!

A much needed fresh breath that responds to the normally resurfacing “rise to fame and fortune” tale.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"In all those stories about people who sold their souls to the devil, I never quite understood why the devil was the bad guy, or why it was okay to screw him out of his soul. They got what they wanted: fame, money, love, whatever—though usually, it turned out not to be what they really wanted or expected. Was that the devil's fault? I never thought so. Like John Wayne said, 'Life's tough. It's even tougher when you're stupid.' ”

-James Anderson, "The Never-Open Desert Diner”

It is a time not too long ago. When America is forced to start focusing on terrorism. Young Celeste Montgomery and her sister Ellie (Stacy Martin), hardened by the pain of a school shooting, create a song to outlet their suffering (original music by pop star Sia created for this film). This song sets the yellow brick road to fame and fortune, or the rabbit hole to impossibly worse misery. 

With a dedicated yet “disparate” manager (Jude Law), now older Celeste (Natalie Portman) has to balance the pressure of fame when dealing with the logistical measures of a typical day amongst the release of a new album (“Vox Lux” or "voice of light" in Latin) and subsequent events (tour, interviews, promotion, etc.). This is all while being a good role model raising a teenage daughter as a single mother, steering the ship of her famed career that all inner circles have to take heed to. 

Writer/Director Brady Corbet leads one by the hand and intriguingly introduces one to the insides of show business. The luring of the musical score, along with Willem Dafoe’s narration, all helps to construct the mousetrap that captures one in an entanglement of bittersweet or even sympathetic culmination. 

Celeste (Natalie Portman) rose to popstar diva sensation, for the sake of those she loved. 

For Celeste to have to deal with terrorism today using her stardom made me see just how influential the rich can be and how much we place them on a pedal stool. When Celeste is making her case in the ether as to how she feels like an object and not a real person made me see the other side, that is it really someone’s fault? My point is an argument can be made for both. You sign your life away when you sign on for those millions as a superstar; and the world is cruel, we should stop worshipping celebrities, they know what they signed up for. Look what it does to many of them? What fame and fortune does to one’s soul. 

Despite the poor reception from critics as well as the general public, I don’t mind being alone on this one and saying this was the much needed response to the typical fame and fortune tale that’s told today. Even if it’s just a failed attempt (not in my opinion), it’s striving for that new breath of air and originality with today’s usual. All of my outside thoughts went away and returned when I left the viewing experience, as it should and not just in the quick fix way of more of the same. This stayed with me and I can’t wait to purchase this and own it forever!

Vox Lux (2018)

Drama/Musical, 114 Minutes, R

Written & Directed By: Brady Corbet

Cast: Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Jennifer Ehle, Christopher Abbott, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, & Willem Dafoe