On this episode of Adjust Your Tracking, Joe and I search for meaning in the thematic concerns of two surprisingly connected films from different times. We look at the new movie, “Vox Lux,” starring Natalie Portman and directed by actor turned serious auteur Brady Corbet (“The Childhood Of A Leader,” discussed on AYT #135), and compare it to my HOLD UP of “25th Hour” by Spike Lee. Both films find a hypnotic manner of weaving 9/11 and other tragedies so unfortunately familiar to modern American life, even though these elements only speak to the film’s actual narratives in abstract ways. They make for a fascinating double bill.
The word on ‘Vox’ seems to have turned in many critical realms, as I’ve been noticing a lot of hatred pointed towards the film, a bold mix of character study, pop stardom, everyday tragedy and the effect these elements, so often swirled around together in the news that they’ve become horrifically, embarrassingly conjoined, may have on our soul. Joe and I are much warmer to the film, and find ourselves in the minority. But we sure hope audiences seek it out for nothing else than its bold filmmaking by everyone involved. “25th Hour,” if you haven’t seen it yet, is well worth catchup. We look back at it and how it connects to ‘Vox’ while also championing it as one of Lee’s very best films. And so, we discuss.
LISTEN: “The Favourite” & “Shoplifters” Are Two Of The Best Films Of The Year [AYT Podcast]
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