Director: Brady Corbet
By Alex Watson
As a director, Brady Corbet is one of the most intriguing talents to hit our screens in recent years. His debut 'Childhood of a Leader' was a gripping yet baffling account of a child finding a terrifying ego. His follow up Vox Lux in some ways is a fine commentary on the birth of celebrity and the corruption that follows. Despite a fine set up and a masterful central turn by Natalie Portman, it just feels like a wasted opportunity.
In 1999, Celeste Montgomery (Raffey Cassidy) is a 14-year-old girl who is a survivor of a horrific school shooting. At the memorial for the victims, she sings a poignant and almost poetic tribute and instantly becomes a star. Years later, Celeste (now played by Natalie Portman) is now 31 and is preparing for a homecoming gig on Staten Island. However, a mass shooting occurs in a beach resort in Croatia which appears to have been inspired by one of her previous videos. Along with her colorful and constantly scrutinized personal life, how will she juggle another tragedy?
The first half of Vox Lux is where the movie's strength lies. Corbet jolts his audience early during a haunting opening sequence in 1999 where a disturbed boy turns up to a high school music class and immediately starting shooting people. Celeste tries to connect with him and refuses to succumb to fear, but the boy leaves her with a permanent neck scar. During the first act, a constant and personable voiceover by Willem Dafoe lets the audience fill in certain gaps. Celeste's rise to fame is a fascinating commentary on the corruption of fame as she goes from an innocent school girl to singing progressively more provocative lyrics. Recuperating in hospital from her wounds, she composes a song with her sister Eleanor (Stacy Martin). Soon the song strikes a chord with the nation and becomes as the narrator says with amused disgust "a hit!"
Managed by an ego-centric, foul-mouthed and drug-fueled manager (Jude Law), her early misadventures will be making a lasting impact such as an ill-judged fling with a grungey British guitarist. Celeste goes on to become a household name while Eleanor secretly pens her songs and the pair drift apart after a notable mid-story incident. In the first half, Corbet crafts a story that is striking and free from a cliche, but sadly is unable to maintain this momentum going into the second half. Celeste has become the hot mess that so many young starlets are unable to avoid and after an unfortunate traffic incident- the shooting in Croatia (the killers wear masks similar to one of her prior videos) has given another meal for the media to feast upon.
Part of the problem with the final act of Vox Lux fails to bring the picture full circle and never makes full use of its great potential. Tensions rise during this stretch as Eleanor and Celeste clash over her teenage daughter Albertine (also played by Cassidy)- Celeste had a kid young who was raised by her sister while she ascended to the top. While Corbet throws the logs on the fire, the sparks never rise and things just burn out. Corbet almost seems to want to avoid answering the key questions he has forced his audience to mull over. The abruptness and ambiguity of its ending frustrates more than it fascinates us. Climaxing with an extending concert film (original songs by Sia and choreographed by Portman's husband Benjamin Millepied) is well polished but unnecessary. Corbet's movie has the quality of production and a promising premise to make a great movie, but despite some great camera work and cinematography by Lol Crawley- this fails to hit the high notes.
While she only arrives late in the day, Natalie Portman is excellent as the jaded and grenade gobbed Celeste. While her Staten Island accent is perhaps overly pronounced, Portman is mesmerizing as the immature and insecure star. Showing how the pressures of fame have stripped her innocence away and turned her into a barely coherent soul. However, it's Raffey Cassidy who steals the movie away from her co-star with an assured and confident turn. On double duty, Cassidy gives two separate performances which are both equally brilliant. As the young Celeste she shows the innocence and naivety of the fame that encapsulate her while as Albertine, she shows a young girl whose unable to open up to her self-centered mother. Impressing in movies such as The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Cassidy is one for the future.
Vox Lux is a movie which leaves us wanting more in the worst possible way. Brady Corbet will be an indie king someday, but this picture is a brief misstep what could be a promising career.
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