Vox Lux

{{Infobox film

| name = Vox Lux

| image = Vox Lux.png

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Brady Corbet

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Christine Vachon
David Hinojosa
Brian Young
Gary Michael Walters
Robert Salerno
Michel Litvak
Svetlana Metkina
David Litvak
Andrew Lauren
D.J. Gugenheim

}}

| screenplay = Brady Corbet

| story = {{Plainlist|

Brady Corbet
Mona Fastvold

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = {{plainlist|

Scott Walker (score)
Sia (songs)

}}

| cinematography = Lol Crawley

| editing = Matthew Hannam

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Killer Films
Andrew Lauren Productions
Bold Films

}}

| distributor = Neon

| released = {{Film date|2018|9|4|Venice|2018|12|7|United States}}

| runtime = 110 minutes{{cite web|url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2018/lineup/venezia-75-competition/vox-lux|title=Vox Lux|website=Venice Biennale|date=July 13, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $11 million{{cite web|url=https://www.kodak.com/pk/en/motion/Blog/Blog_Post/?ContentId=4295010155|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190721192350/https://www.kodak.com/pk/en/motion/Blog/Blog_Post/?ContentId=4295010155|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2019|title=Vox Lux|website=Kodak|access-date=July 21, 2019}}

| gross = $1.4 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=voxlux.htm|title=Vox Lux|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 21, 2019}}

}}

Vox Lux is a 2018 American musical drama film written and directed by Brady Corbet, from a story by Corbet and Mona Fastvold. The film stars Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin and Jennifer Ehle.

Vox Lux had its world premiere at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2018, and was released in the United States on December 7, 2018, by Neon. The film received generally favorable reviews from film critics, and grossed $1.4 million on an $11 million budget.

Plot

= Prelude =

In early January 2000, a boy named Cullen Active walks into his school in the Staten Island neighborhood of New Brighton, goes to an 8th grade class and shoots the teacher, Mrs. Dwyer. One student, 14-year-old Celeste Montgomery, calmly and compassionately talks to Cullen, and offers to pray with him. However, he shoots all the students and kills himself; Celeste is later seen to be in one of only three ambulances carrying survivors from the scene.

=Act 1: Genesis=

As she slowly recovers from her injuries, Celeste and her older sister, Eleanor, write music together. Soon afterward, at an event led by Father Cliff in memory of the shooting victims, Celeste sings a song that she and Eleanor wrote titled "Wrapped Up". The song becomes an instant hit and Celeste is soon picked up by a manager.

By April 2000, Celeste is recording an EP in New York City. Over the next 20 months, Celeste manages and navigates the increasing pressures of her newfound fame in spite of her past trauma. She and Eleanor indulge in bouts of partying that soon get in the way of Celeste's work, including Celeste being subject to sexual misconduct by an older musician and Eleanor having sex with Celeste's manager the night before the September 11 attacks. Nevertheless, Celeste continues to successfully rise in the music industry, with her songs getting quickly picked up by the radio and rushing the demand for her first music video, "Hologram (Smoke and Mirrors)".

=Act 2: Regenesis=

In 2017, a terrorist shooting on a beach in Croatia is rumored to be linked to Celeste's music due to the masks that the criminals donned, which are similar to the masks from Celeste's 2001 "Hologram" video.

Celeste is now 31 years old and preparing for the first night of a concert tour for her sixth album, Vox Lux. Her manager informs her of the terrorist shooting, and then tells her to prepare for the ensuing press junkets. Before her first interview, Celeste takes her teenage daughter, Albertine (conceived from the encounter with the musician), to lunch. Once there, Celeste unveils her erratic and destructive behavior, aided by alcohol, resulting in Celeste and Albertine getting kicked out of the restaurant by the manager. It is revealed that, six years prior, Celeste permanently blinded herself in her left eye due to consuming excessive amounts of methanol while binge-drinking household cleaning products. Celeste then drove under the influence across three state lines, injuring a man in his left leg and pelvis in the process, which resulted in a public lawsuit.

After lunch, Celeste has a heated argument with Eleanor after discovering Albertine has recently lost her virginity; Eleanor has been Albertine's guardian since her birth. The press interviews begin soon after, with Celeste becoming increasingly unhinged after one interviewer mentions the aforementioned driving incident. Her publicist decides to cancel the rest of the interviews scheduled that day and asks Celeste to rest before the concert. However, Celeste and her manager get high on drugs and have sex. That evening, an impaired Celeste heads for the concert venue with her entourage in tow. She then experiences a mental breakdown, with Eleanor successfully comforting her before sending her out.

=Finale=

Celeste appears ready for the concert and preps for the stage with her band and background dancers. She then performs multiple songs with elaborate dance numbers involved. It is revealed that after she was shot, Celeste told Eleanor that she made a deal with the devil for her life. Her manager, Albertine, and Eleanor pensively look on at the façade of a performing Celeste.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Natalie Portman as Celeste
Jude Law as the manager
Stacy Martin as Eleanor
Jennifer Ehle as Josie the publicist
Raffey Cassidy as young Celeste / Albertine
Christopher Abbott as the journalist
Logan Riley Bruner as Cullen Active
Maria Dizzia as Ms. Dwyer
Meg Gibson as Celeste's mother
Daniel London as Father Cliff
Sahr Ngaujah as a recording engineer in 2000
Micheál Richardson as the musician
Matt Servitto as Celeste's father
Leslie Silva as the stylist

}}

In addition, Willem Dafoe provides the narration.

Production

In August 2016, it was announced Brady Corbet would write and direct the film, with Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa and Brian Young producing the film under their Killer Films and Three Six Zero Group banners respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/brady-corbet-to-write-direct-pop-star-film-vox-lux-killer-films/|title=Brady Corbet to Write and Direct Pop Star Drama 'Vox Lux' (Exclusive)|website=TheWrap|first=Matt|last=Donnelly|date=August 8, 2016|access-date=February 1, 2018}} In September 2016, Rooney Mara joined the cast of the film, while Sia was hired to compose original songs for the film.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/rooney-mara-pop-star-drama-vox-lux-1201866941/|title=Rooney Mara to Play a Pop Star in Drama 'Vox Lux' With Original Music From Sia|work=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=September 21, 2016|access-date=February 1, 2018}} In October 2016, Jude Law joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/jude-law-rooney-mara-vox-lux-1201876693/|title=Jude Law to Join Rooney Mara in Pop Star Drama 'Vox Lux' (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=February 1, 2018}} In January 2017, Stacy Martin confirmed her involvement in the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.wmagazine.com/story/stacy-martin-miu-miu-fragrance|title=Stacy Martin Has a "Very French" Approach to Drinking Wine and Eating Bread|work=W|first=Kristen|last=Tice Studman|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=February 1, 2018}} In January 2018, Natalie Portman joined the cast of the film, replacing Mara.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/natalie-portman-jude-law-vox-lux-1202677905/|title=Natalie Portman Boards 'Vox Lux' (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=January 26, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2018}} In February 2018, Raffey Cassidy joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/natalie-portman-vox-lux-raffey-cassidy-1202689151/|title=Natalie Portman's 'Vox Lux' Adds 'Killing of a Sacred Deer's' Raffey Cassidy (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=February 6, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2018}} In August 2018, it was reported that Sia would be contributing original songs and Scott Walker would be scoring the film.{{cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/sia-scott-walker-vox-lux-20180821/|title=Sia & Scott Walker Providing The Music For Natalie Portman Musical Drama 'Vox Lux'|last=Barfield|first=Charles|date=August 21, 2018|access-date=August 23, 2018|work=The Playlist}} Speaking of his surprise involvement in the film, Willem Dafoe, who narrates the film, stated that “it was a very last-minute thing. I think Brady had another voice in there and he wasn’t quite happy with it, and at the last minute he had the idea to use me to be the narrator — which in terms of actual work isn’t a huge time commitment. It’s an important tonal element and framing device in the film. It’s a kind of go-between with the audience.”[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/willem-dafoe-becoming-vincent-van-gogh-at-eternitys-gate-1162118 Willem Dafoe on Becoming Vincent  Van  Gogh: "You Want a Living Painting, Not a Museum Piece"] Corbet has discussed the challenges of making the film, saying that "nobody asked for it" and he did not make any money from it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Feb2019/VoxLux_QnA_1218.aspx|title=Director Brady Corbet discusses Vox Lux - A DGA Q&A in New York|website=www.dga.org|language=en|access-date=2019-07-15}}

Principal photography began on February 1, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/newhydepark/movie-starring-natalie-portman-jude-law-film-floral-park|title=Movie Starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law To Film In Floral Park|work=New Hyde Park Patch|first=Paige|last=McAtree|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2018}} Portman said her performance was influenced by what she had observed in documentaries on pop stars, such as Madonna and Lady Gaga.{{Cite web|title=Is Celeste Based On A Real Singer? 'Vox Lux' Was Influenced By Some Very Famous Names|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/is-celeste-based-on-a-real-singer-vox-lux-was-influenced-by-some-very-famous-names-13235532|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Bustle}}

Release

Vox Lux premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/venice-film-festival-2018-lineup-full-list-1202433056/|title=Venice Film Festival Lineup: Welles, Coen Brothers, Cuaron, Greengrass, More – Live|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018}} It also screened at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-natalie-portmans-vox-lux-chloe-grace-moretzs-greta-join-festival-lineup-1136302|title=Toronto: Natalie Portman's 'Vox Lux,' Chloe Grace Moretz's 'Greta' Join Festival Lineup|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|date=August 21, 2018|access-date=August 21, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/tiff/vox-lux|title=Vox Lux|work=Toronto International Film Festival|access-date=August 21, 2018}} Shortly after, Neon acquired distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/vox-lux-natalie-portman-neon-toronto-film-festival-1202461358/|title=Festival Action Heating As NEON Edging Towards Natalie Portman-Starrer 'Vox Lux:' Toronto|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=September 10, 2018|access-date=September 10, 2018}} It was screened at the 29th New Orleans Film Festival on October 23, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://neworleansfilmsociety.org/events/vox-lux/|title=Vox Lux {{!}} New Orleans Film Society|website=New Orleans Film Society|access-date=2018-09-30}} It was theatrically released on December 7, 2018{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/vox-lux-to-strike-a-chord-this-awards-season-as-neon-sets-december-release-for-natalie-portman-jude-law-music-drama-1202469274/|title='Vox Lux' To Strike A Chord This Awards Season As NEON Sets December Release For Natalie Portman-Jude Law Music Drama|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=September 21, 2018|access-date=September 21, 2018}} and on VOD by Universal Home Entertainment on March 5, 2019. Sales of its DVD/Blu-ray releases grossed $121,480.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Vox-Lux-(2018)#tab=summary |title=Vox Lux (2018) - Financial Information |publisher=The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC |access-date=June 14, 2021}}

==Reception==

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads: "Intriguing albeit flawed, Vox Lux probes the allures and pitfalls of modern celebrity with sharp intelligence and visual style, all held together by an assured Natalie Portman performance."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vox_lux|title=Vox Lux (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 67 out of 100, based on 39 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/vox-lux|title=Vox Lux Reviews|work=Metacritic|access-date=September 8, 2019}}

Guy Lodge of Variety praised Portman's performance and called the film "a bold, often brilliant trip through the celebrity spin cycle."{{Cite web|first=Guy|last=Lodge|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/vox-lux-review-natalie-portman-1202925613/|title = Film Review: Natalie Portman in 'Vox Lux'|website=Variety|date = September 4, 2018}}