"Vox Lux": Fame Born From Tragedy, And Tragedy Born From Fame

"Vox Lux": Movie Review

From the very beginning (1999) and till the very end (2017), "Vox Lux" is a story about fame born from a tragedy, and tragedy brought about by fame.

This is a harrowing look into the world of media, celebrities, and our misguided societal needs. A tale that seems to organically repeat itself over decades of constant starvation for the next big thing we can latch onto in the tabloids.

Beautifully told, and exquisitely shot, "Vox Lux" is a tremendously relatable tale, of a society that is addicted to fame.

A devastating massacre occurs, bringing a young Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) an inordinate amount of fame at a premature age. Throughout her life she deals with drugs, sex, and maintaining her relationships all the way up to her adulthood (played by Natalie Portman).

This is a story as old as time. But director Brady Cobert ("The Childhood Of A Leader") dives into existential, philosophical intricacies, giving the film that refreshing artistic perspective. Its most disturbing, graphic elements are rich in shades of nuance. And the most pure are a testament to our overbearing society.

Raffey Cassidy, and Natalie Portman deserve Oscar nominations, and Jude Law (great to see him), as the overbearing manager is a fantastically grounded character. All the performances feel nightmarish in their overbearing realism.

Some odd directorial decisions keep it from being the ultimate movie of the year, but it's just a spectacular, genre defining film, worth multiple viewings.

3 1/2 Stars Out Of 4