Vox Lux

Brady Corbet’s sophomore effort, Vox Lux charts the adolescence and career of Lady Gaga-like pop star Celeste (Raffey Cassidy as an adolescent and Natalie Portman as an adult) and the impact her erratic behavior has on those in her orbit (including Jude Law’s sketchy manager and Stacy Martin’s exasperated Eleanor). Filmmaker Corbet certainly does an astonishing job of immediately drawing the viewer into the (somewhat overlong) proceedings, as Vox Lux kicks off with an engrossing and incredibly stylish opening that seems to promise a truly singular cinematic experience. From there, though, the picture segues into deliberate narrative that’s often as tedious as it is captivating – with the ongoing inclusion of admittedly striking interludes compensating for the hit-and-miss atmosphere (eg a sequence detailing Celeste’s exploits in Stockholm is presented in fast-forward). Corbet’s unapologetically self-indulgent sensibilities are reflected most keenly in his proclivity for long, drawn-out sequences, and yet it’s hard to deny that the film succeeds completely as a low-key character study of an admittedly captivating figure – with this vibe certainly heightened by both Cassidy and Portman’s engrossing work as the central character (and it’s clear, as well, that both actresses deserve credit for their warts-and-all portrayal of a somewhat unlikable individual). The bizarre (and excessive) closing stretch, which operates as a mini concert held by Celeste, certainly confirms Vox Lux’s place as a seriously uneven piece of work, with the picture’s various highs ultimately compensating for its more overtly underwhelming elements.

*** out of ****