Summary:
An unusual set of circumstances bring success to a pop star.
My Thoughts:
The expression writ on my face while I watched this movie was grim. I don’t think I smiled more than a few times. When I heard what this film was about, the rise of a pop star, I had no idea how dark of a tale I was in for, nor did I expect this film to feel so epic. This movie has some very intense violence, some incredibly uncomfortable situations, and a protagonist who behaves abhorrently at times. At the same time, this is a film that has a powerful voice and an uncompromising vision. I feel like this movie will polarize people (the reviews have shown as much); you’ll either love it or hate it. I loved it, but I would not say that it was an enjoyable experience.
This film has drawn some comparisons to the most recent version of “A Star is Born”, and in a way I can see why. The rise of a pop star is the basic premise for both storylines, and both have main characters that struggle with substance abuse, but where “A Star is Born” has an undercurrent of yearning and themes of love, Vox Lux gives off a constant feeling of unease.
As far as tone goes, I personally would draw more comparisons to “Black Swan”, though Portman, who stars in both “Black Swan” and this film, plays two very different characters in those movies, which really speaks to her versatility. She is far more likeable in “Black Swan” than she is in this.
I expect my review below this will include a few spoilers, so read at your own risk. This is a fantastic movie but it is absolutely NOT for everyone, so, also watch at your own risk.
“I think I’ve done something terrible.”
(SPOILERS FOLLOW)
After surviving a horrific incident in 1999, young Celeste (Raffey Cassidy, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”) with the help of her older sister Eleanor (Stacy Martin, “High-Rise”), writes a song to express her feelings about surviving the tragedy. After the song gains national attention, Celeste is signed to a label and given a Manager (Jude Law, “eXistenZ”). As her fame increases, Celeste falls prey to the usual temptations that come with her lifestyle. Eighteen years after the tragedy that kicked off her career, Celeste (Natalie Portman, “Annihilation”) is a world famous pop star who is touring to promote her sixth studio album, Vox Lux. Her daughter Albertine (also played by Raffey Cassidy) visits her on tour after not seeing her for a while, only to find her mother borderline mentally unsound… or is she?
I mentioned that I think this film received polarizing reviews because of the tough content, but I also think the way the film was advertised had a lot to do with it. I only saw one teaser trailer for this movie, and it only showed Portman getting ready to go on stage in an outfit that looks like something Lady Gaga might wear. While the music was somewhat mysterious, it did not prepare me for the shocking violence that starts off this film. The way this movie begins is incredibly tragic, but it also hooks you emotionally right away. When I cried within the first fifteen minutes of this movie, I knew I was in for more than I bargained for.
Another reason for the polarizing reviews might be the fact that Portman herself doesn’t show up until almost forty-five minutes into the movie, and when she does show up, she’s a horrible person. Young Celeste (played by Cassidy) is a sympathetic character in that she’s a survivor of a horrible accident, and she’s also quite naïve in the way that she tries to navigate her newfound fame. We feel for her, and want her to succeed. But by the time we meet up with Portman’s Celeste in act two, that fame has eaten away at her personality, and made her thorny. The constant barrage of drugs and alcohol has frayed her thinking, and at times she rambles in almost an incoherent manner. She’s horrible to the people she loves, including her daughter (Cassidy) and her sister, and she’s in a somewhat poisonous relationship with her manager Jude Law (whom, I might add, remains conspicuously unnamed throughout the film).
What really makes this movie amazing is watching the dynamics of Celeste’s relationship with fame and the people around her; even though she continuously makes mistakes, her career seems to constantly be reaching new heights, a truth older Celeste tearfully laments in a wonderfully acted scene There is a strange shadow that follows Celeste’s every move; she is tenuously connected to horrible things that happen around the globe, but somehow her fame continues to rise. This growth is something that Celeste herself seems uncomfortable with; almost as if she’s frightened of the way her fame has taken on a life of its own. Her relationship with her fans, her family, and her manager all seem to be tumbling out of control, yet when she gets up on stage, it is incredibly apparent why people follow her: her stage presence is amazing.
The songs for this movie were written by Sia. If your unfamiliar with her style of music, it’s kind of like Lady Gaga’s pop anthem stuff. For a large part of the film, Portman’s character is so unlikable that its impossible to understand why anyone would like this girl, and then when she gets up on stage it feels as if you are being rewarded for all the horrible things you’ve seen. Portman steals the show and lights up the stage, and it’s easy to believe that thousands of people would flock to see her. Though Celeste might be a self-centered, narcissistic star with ideas that border on delusional, her music is undeniably impressive. As the film wraps up, Willem Dafoe (“At Eternity’s Gate”), who serves as the narrator over certain parts of this movie, gives one last closing narration that reveals a kind of twist, that if the viewer was paying attention, should make a lot of sense and also re-contextualizes a lot of the minor details of the film. This movie goes from an epic character drama to a very subtle thriller at the turn of a phrase. It’s absolutely brilliant in its execution.
I actually watched this film twice over the weekend; once by myself, and once with TMM reviewer Karl. On my second watch, I found myself drawing comparisons between Celeste and my generation as a whole, and I wondered if this wasn’t entirely intentional (Celeste and I were born two years apart). Celeste’s whole journey is framed by tragedies: in Act One there is a school shooting that mirrors Columbine and 9/11, and in Act Two there is a random act of terror, akin to what is very common today. As she grows older, Celeste’s view on life seems to shift; she cares less and less about the important things in life and wants instead just to forget her troubles, dance, do drugs, and feel good about herself. This almost nihilistic outlook on life, this kind of devil may care attitude is something that I’ve seen in a lot of my peers, and I feel as if Corbet has shed a light on something not many of us talk about: the loss of innocence of a generation.
When 9/11 happened, we millennials collectively lost a kind of innocence that existed beforehand. As young children millennials were exposed to great violence, and then we were bombarded with that as we grew: the wars in Iraq and Iran, more terrorist attacks, more school shootings… the violence in today’s culture is so ubiquitous that it’s impossible to get away from it. Not only that, but it’s harder and harder to honestly care about the victims: my heart can only break so many times before it’s made of more scar than muscle. We as a nation have become heartless and self-centered, but it almost seems as if it’s partially in self defense. When we’re tossed into a violent and confusing world, what is there to do but fight back, even if it means doing so in the most ugly way possible. This is Celeste exactly. There are moments where she seems to really shine through her clouded mind and say something worth hearing, but for the most part, Celeste is content to just drown herself in entertainment and escape the hurt.
Verdict:
Though I understand why someone would not like this film, as Portman’s character is more often unlikable than not, I am a little surprised this film didn’t get more attention, particularly in the cinephile community. This is not a fun watch (though on my second watch I found it a little more darkly humorous than I had originally), but it is a fantastic film with really bold artistic choices as far as direction goes, and there are also some stellar performances from Portman, Law, and Cassidy. I feel like you’ll either love this movie or hate it. Either way, I can guarantee you’ll remember it.
Review Written By: