Welcome one and all to my weekly blog, The 52 In 52. The premise is simple each week this year I watch and review a DVD or Blu Ray that has gathered dust on my shelf. Last week I reviewed the creepy Irish horror film, The Hole In The Ground.
As always if you have any comments or feedback leave a comment in the section below or by following me on Twitter and Instagram.
This week I will be talking about Vox Lux. Released in late 2018 Vox Lux follows the story of Celeste Montgomery (Cassidy) who is injured during a mass shooting in the year 2000 in which all of her classmates are murdered. During recovery Celeste begins to write music with her sister Ellie (Stacy Martin). Her life is changed forever after performing the song at a memorial concert sky rocketing Celeste into super stardom. The film then rejoins the story in 2017 where Celeste (Natalie Portman) is now re emerging to release her 6th album after a turbulent life.
I think that Vox Lux is probably the most polarising of any of the films I've watched this year. Whilst I enjoyed Vox Lux I have read quite a few reviews that have been quite critical. I really enjoyed the story throughout and the way in which it was told. The adding of a narrator (Willem Dafoe) gave the over all story an almost fantasy like element to what could have been a simple mockumentary. It also allowed for the pace of the story to remain throughout, dropping in details to fill in the blanks without having to see the events in question. I loved the under pinning of the story with dramatic and violent events. This was trivialised and the events of Celeste's life took centre stage more prominently as the film went on.
I loved the way in which Vox Lux was filmed. There is a grainy style to the first act that gives the feel of diving into an archive like a behind the scenes documentary which is partnered with a muted colour pallet that really helps separate the acts. As the film progresses into the second act in 2017 that style is phased out and there is a slickness and vibrancy to the overall feel. The film opens with a callback to the old style of films with the credits rolling at the very start of the film as the aftermath of the epilogue takes place.
The performances are what really drives Vox Lux. Raffey Cassidy is incredible as the young Celeste. There's a fragility to Celeste as she navigates her way through new found fame. As she becomes more confident in her fame and ability her character subtly changes to become more self focused. Cassidy also puts in a great performance as grown up Celeste's daughter Albertine who seems to be the version of Celeste that had never found fame. Natalie Portman is exactly what the film needs as Celeste. Over the top and dramatic in equal measures. She embodies the train wreck lifestyle and really just chews the scenery in a good way. Stacy Martin puts in a good performance as Celeste's older sister Ellie, who begins the story as the bad influence and ultimately pays the price as she has almost all confidence knocked out of her over the years. Jude Law is perfect as the sleazy shit bag manager, leering over the impressionable Celeste and by the end of the film he has chewed her up and spit her out.
Overall Vox Lux is a very strange beast. For a film about a pop star there is very little in the way of musical performances but, when there are they are entertaining enough. The story feels a bit jumbled due to the pace of the film but, really gives a real insight into the beginnings and finale of a career. The central performances are spot on with Cassidy fragile to touch and Portman the jaded, world weary version. If you are looking for A Star Is Born 2.0 this won't satisfy you but, it is more like a morality tale.
Comments
Post a Comment