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Vox Lux
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Stark but glitzy music-industry drama has violence, sex.
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Vox Lux
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What's the Story?
VOX LUX starts out in 2000: Teen Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) is in music class when a teen gunman enters, kills the teacher, and shoots Celeste. She survives, but a bullet is lodged in her spine, and she must take pain medication for life. At a memorial service, along with her sister, Ellie (Stacy Martin), Celeste performs a moving song that becomes a popular anthem. Celeste finds a manager (Jude Law) and embarks upon a new career as a pop star, simply hoping to make people happy. But on Sept. 11, 2001, Celeste catches Ellie in bed with the manager, and her outlook changes forever. Years later, in 2017, grown-up Celeste (Natalie Portman) prepares for the first show of a big new tour, talking to journalists, trying to spend quality time with her daughter, and fighting her own inner demons. Can she continue to do what she was born to do?
Is It Any Good?
This drama set in the pop music world has plenty to say, but its delivery of its message doesn't quite work. Still, Portman's nervy performance and the movie's dazzling cinematography and haunting music make it worth a look. Written and directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet, Vox Lux is very much an anti-A Star Is Born; it shows the dark side of showbiz, wherein virtually nothing is sacred. The movie more or less places pop music side by side with brutal acts of terrorism. A gunshot wound kick-starts Celeste's career, and another violent attack launches her latest big show. But ultimately, when Celeste takes the stage in the movie's colorful final act, it's not entirely clear what the movie meant to say by all this.
In the movie's second half, Portman gets to rage, cajole, break down, get high, be indignant, be fabulous, and be a star so big that she claims to be the "new testament." She adopts a tough New York accent and lots of swagger. Corbet's camera smoothly glides behind her as she struts into some situations and staggers out of others; though darker, the style here is weirdly similar to that of A Star Is Born. The music by the moody genius Scott Walker, with pop songs written by the extremely talented Sia, crystallizes Vox Lux, making it sound serious and authentic. When it's over, you may not be sure what you've just seen, but you'll know you've definitely seen something.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Vox Lux's violence. Did you find the violent scenes disturbing? Why or why not? How does this violence connect to the rest of the story?
How is sex depicted? Are characters partners, or is it more recreational? What values are imparted?
How are drinking and drug use shown? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why is that important?
How does this movie compare to A Star Is Born? How are the messages different? What view does each movie take toward performing? Stardom? Do these movies make performing music seem appealing?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 7, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: March 5, 2019
- Cast: Natalie Portman , Jude Law , Raffey Cassidy
- Director: Brady Corbet
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Neon
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Arts and Dance , Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 112 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language, some strong violence, and drug content
- Last updated: September 5, 2022
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