TIFF '18 Film Review - Vox Lux

Starting with a 1999 school shooting actor turned director Bradley Corbert throws down the first jarring event of the film introducing Raffey Cassidy as 13-year-old Celeste in music class trying to talk down the shooter. Her efforts result in a pause then the goth clad killer continues striking Celeste in the neck leaving a permanent reminder of the event. Celeste in recovery mode sings a song at the memorial that goes viral announcing her as Americas next singing star.  Jude Law appears as her manager setting up recording time and videos while her sister Elanor (Stacy Martin) who Celeste acknowledges is more talented than her pledges to never leave her side.

Jump ahead to 2017 an adult Celeste (Natalie Portman) in full Diva mode preparing for a concert back in her hometown. She is in comeback mode having suffered the ups and downs of scandal and addiction that comes with the profession. Her daughter Albertine Cassidy ding double duty comes to the hotel where the pair goes out for lunch with disastrous results. The second act opened with a mass terrorist shooting on a beach in Croatia on the same day as Celeste show. The media point to the connections especially as the gunmen were clad in masks from one of her music videos. Celeste is asked to comment but again makes a mess due to a combination of drugs and alcohol consumed before the interview.

Corbert does not shy away from the glitter in the second act of the film. Portman is clad in shiny leather in her downtime with a bright studded dog collar around her neck covering her scar from all those years ago. The glitz picks up at her concert from the costumes to the stage design to the blaring decibels of her songs that is set to ear bleed level.

Natalie Portman devours he role of Celeste. She is full on as she battles with the media, her management team, her daughter and even the manager of a restaurant that merely asks to take a picture with her. Raffey Cassidy continues her upward trajectory from her strong work in last years Killing of A Sacred Deer.  She is brave confronting the shooter that has just shot dead her music teacher, vulnerable as she sings her first public song at the 1999 memorial. But she proves to be an equal to her manager and sister as her career blossoms. Later she firmly marks her territory acting as more of an adult than her now mega-famous mom as the latter throws one of her many tantrums.  Jude Law puts some good work on screen after what feels like years as the seedy Brit. manager.  He's more of an enabler than check on bad behavior having disappointed Celeste as a youngster on their first trip away from home.  The film is a send-up of pop culture and characters that I can recommend.

*** Out of 4

Vox Lux | Bradley Corbet | U.S.A. | 110 Minutes.

Tags: School Shooting, Memorial, Addiction, Terrorist Attack, Comeback Concert , Press Conference. Pop Star, Concert.