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Pop Life: ASIB & Vox Lux


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Interesting article from The Ringer about ASIB and Vox Lux, and their different outlooks on pop stardom: https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/9/11/17845020/pop-life-a-star-is-born-and-vox-lux-look-at-what-artists-sacrifice-for-their-art

gaga_portman.0.jpg

Some excerpts:

"Preconceptions and buzzwords (“brand” inevitably makes an appearance) are exploited to the most embarrassing effect when Vox Lux tackles its central theme of pop culture’s brutality. In a long monologue to her bewildered daughter Albertine (also played by Cassidy), Celeste rambles on about how the whole world has low standards now and she needn’t even try to make good music anymore. It’s all about money and basic instincts these days. Coming from the woman who became a pop star on the back of a tragedy, this speech is doubly cynical."

"In A Star Is Born, Sam Elliott’s Bobby (with his deliciously deep voice) explains that just like people will use the same notes to make their own melodies, there are only a few stories out there, and they just get repeated over and over—the only difference is in how they are told. A Star Is Born and Vox Lux are on the opposite sides of the rise-and-fall musical film coin (and the corniness of Bobby’s metaphor is just another proof of it). Cooper cares about both the music and the life story and employs them to make, if not a timeless film, at least a memorable and universal one. Corbet instead investigates these simple but essential ingredients not for their own interesting complexities, but for the banalities that they sometimes carry—and it doesn’t have a nice ring to it."

.................

Can I just say that I kind of love how they've become a good twin/evil twin pair of female-lead music movies.

Anyway, the reviewer critiques Vox Lux for its extremely cynical tone, but respects the genuine romanticism of ASIB. I can see where they're coming from in that it's respectable when a movie takes a stab at sincerity because its far tougher to pull off, whereas being a cynic is far easier (it also sounds like Vox Lux is the type of movie that is also trying to be an essay at the same time).  While the ASIB praise is great & is refreshing that a film site isn't predictably falling over itself to praise the ~artier~ film over the romantic drama, this doesn't deter me from being interested in seeing Vox Lux too (I really want to see the new Elisabeth Moss one was well). 

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Mulholland

I'm looking forward to both, but some critics and film people I follow, whose opinions I typically really respect, have been saying Vox Lux is a (mildly interesting) disappointment that doesn't have as much to say as it would like to think. ("Vox Sux" has been the shorthand review lol.) I guess we'll see!

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raragaga

in other news, i love that image of gaga. she's fcking flawless :queenga:

xoxo
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RAMROD

OK, but is it necessary for that journalist to spoiled the film tho? :toofunny:

(ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ✧*:・゚ hating pop music doesn't make you deep (*´艸`*) ♡♡♡
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