Natalie Portman won an Oscar for her portrayal of an unhinged ballerina in “Black Swan,” but her character in the 2010 psychological thriller seems well-adjusted in comparison to her take on a pop star in “Vox Lux.” A trailer has dropped for the drama, and sees Portman’s Celeste promoting her new album and tour by describing it as a “rebirth” — but it looks like a painful one. Barely able to stand, Celeste prepares to take the stage under the influence. Despite being “scared,” she won’t go down without a fight, and we see her telling her adoring fans, “People have been trying to kick me down for years. But I won’t stay down.”
“Vox Lux” jumps between the past and present day. When we first meet Celeste, she’s a teenager (Raffey Cassidy, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”). After surviving a violent tragedy, she and her sister (Stacy Martin, “High-Rise”) write a song, and Celeste ends up launching a music career and shooting to stardom. Far from a fairy tale, her life is currently in shambles. Now 31, Celeste struggles with fame, addiction, egomania, and a complicated relationship with her daughter (also played by Cassidy).
“I’m sick of everybody treating me like I’m not a person,” the pop diva screams in her dressing room.
Portman was last seen in sci-fi “Annihilation.” Her upcoming projects include astronaut drama “Pale Blue Dot” and “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves,” an HBO series about a woman raised with a chimp as a sister.
“Vox Lux” premiered at Venice to strong reviews. The film hits theaters December 7.
