VOX LUX (2018) About The Director and Cast
Writer, director, and actor BRADY CORBET, and cast NATALIE PORTMAN, JUDE LAW, JENNIFER EHLE
Writer, director, and actor BRADY CORBET, and cast NATALIE PORTMAN, JUDE LAW, JENNIFER EHLE
Writer, director, and actor BRADY CORBET has spent over a decade amassing one of the most diverse resumes in the industry.
Corbet has been seen in a wide array of films, including: FUNNY GAMES, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, SIMON KILLER (which he co-wrote with director Antonio Campos), CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA and FORCE MAJEUER.
In 2009, Corbet presented his writing and directorial debut, the short film - PROTECT YOU + ME at the Sundance Film Festival, shot by legendary cinematographer Darius Khondji and awarded "Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking."
In 2015, Corbet made his feature directorial debut with his film - THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER, which was lauded with critical acclaim and decorated at the Venice Film Festival with the Orrizonti Best Director and Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future Awards.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
My previous film, The Childhood of a Leader, was set in Europe in the early
part of the 20th century. It examined key events that would go on, often
inadvertently, to define the era. It featured a young protagonist who was
witness to the atrocities of an epoch, only to become a cause of them for the
next. The film was inspired by the revisionist histories of Robert Musil and WG
Sebald - labyrinthine constructs that imagine fictional characters as
eyewitnesses of crucial historical turning-points, or real-life personages
placed in altered historical settings. For me, these stories demonstrate a more
transparent contract with the reader than the traditional historical biography
because one is able to access the past without questioning the author about how
they could provide such a detailed account of an event without having been
present for the event themselves. Or if they had been present, in the case of a
memoir, has their memory of past experiences not betrayed them?
Vox Lux is the continuation of that theme but on the other side of the century: an historical melodrama set in America between 1999 and 2017. Its protagonist is a pop star called Celeste and it chronicles key events and cultural patterns that have so far defined the early 21st century via her gaze.
*****
NATALIE PORTMAN received her second Academy Award nomination and first Best Actress win for her performance in Darren Aronofsky's critically acclaimed film, BLACK SWAN. For her role, Portman also received a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics Choice Award.
On screen, Portman has starred in over forty films. She made her debut in Luc Besson's 1994 film, THE PROFESSIONAL, and went on to star in HEAT, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU, MARS ATTACKS!, ANYWHERE BUT HERE (Golden Globe nomination), WHERE THE HEART IS, COLD MOUNTAIN, GARDEN STATE, CLOSER (Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe Award), FREE ZONE, V FOR VENDETTA, PARIS JE T'AIME, GOYA'S GHOSTS, MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU, THE OTHER WOMAN, BROTHERS, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, YOUR HIGHNESS, HESHER, THOR and its sequel THOR: THE DARK WORLD, KNIGHT OF CUPS, JANE GOT A GUN, and Terrence Malick's SONG TO SONG. Additionally, she starred in George Lucas' STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE, STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH. The prequels to the wildly popular STAR WARS trilogy of the 70's and 80's rank among the top-grossing films ever produced worldwide. She has recently completed work on a few films including Alex Garland's highly anticipated second feature, ANNIHILATION, for Paramount, and Xavier Dolan's next film, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN F. DONOVAN.
Most recently, Portman was seen in Alex Garland's highly anticipated second feature and sci-fi thriller, ANNIHILATION. She will once again take the big screen in Xavier Dolan's upcoming film, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN F. DONOVAN and will soon begin filming for Noah Hawley's PALE BLUE DOT, a story of a female astronaut and her return to Earth after a life-changing mission.
Previously Natalie appeared in Pablo LarraÃn's film, JACKIE, in which she starred as First Lady Jacqueline F. Kennedy. For the role, Portman was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and won the Critics' Choice Award. The film premiered to rave reviews at the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival and was released by Fox Searchlight in December 2016. For the role, Portman was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and won the Critics' Choice Award. The Palm Springs International Film Festival also honored Portman with its Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress for her performance in JACKIE.
On stage, Portman starred in Mike Nichol's Shakespeare in the Park production of THE SEAGULL, opposite Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Philip Seymour Hoffman; as well as in James Lapine's Broadway production of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.
Portman has also taken on a variety of roles behind the lens. She wrote, directed, produced, and starred in A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS, which made its world premiere at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and its North American premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The story, based on the memoir by Amos Oz, revolves around Oz's childhood in Jerusalem in the period following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel, in addition to his teenage years on a kibbutz. Portman's credits also include EVE, which she wrote and directed, telling the story of a young woman who ends up on her grandmother's date. The film debuted at the 2008 Venice Film Festival and stars Lauren Bacall, Ben Gazzara, and Olivia Thirlby. She also wrote and directed a short film for NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU, about a day in the life of a father and daughter in Central Park. The film showcases twelve filmmakers who each directed a vignette illustrating the universal theme of love within the five boroughs of New York City.
More recently, Portman served as a producer on THE SEVENTH FIRE, a documentary about a group of Native American gang members, which made its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival in 2015. She also executive produced and narrated the upcoming documentary EATING ANIMALS. The film will examine mankind's dietary choices and is based on Jonathan Safran Foer's memoir.
In addition to her film work, Portman also devotes her time to several humanitarian causes. She became the first Ambassador of Hope for FINCA, an international village banking microfinance program providing small loans and savings programs to the world's poorest families so they may create their own jobs, raise household incomes, and improve their standard of living thereby reducing poverty worldwide. As the Ambassador of Hope, Portman has proved to be a globally aware and dedicated individual who supports the work of FINCA through her advocacy and visits to FINCA International programs in countries such as Guatemala, Ecuador and Uganda. She has also met with high-level United States Members of Congress to lobby for support of international microfinance funding.
As an Ambassador of WE, Portman lends her time to the organization that empowers youth to remove barriers that prevent them from being active local and global citizens. The charity works on international projects, including the Adopt a Village model, which brings over 650 schools and school rooms to youth and provides clean water, health care and sanitation to one million people around the world, freeing children and their families from the cycle of poverty. Through the organization and their "Power of a Girl Project" she also helped support and fund the opening of the Kisaruni All-Girls Secondary School in Kenya.
A Harvard graduate with a degree in psychology, Portman has also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
*****
Two time Academy Award nominee and BAFTA winner JUDE LAW is one of the most sought after talents in the acting world, winning awards for both his screen and theatre work.
Jude is currently filming CAPTAIN MARVEL, in which he plays Dr Walter Lawson, a.k.a. Mar-Vell. Also starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, and Ben Mendelsohn, the Marvel superhero flick is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. It will be released 8th March 2019. He's also filming the spy thriller THE RHYTHM SECTION alongside Blake Lively. Directed by Reed Morano and produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the film is a contemporary adaptation of Mark Burnell's 'Stephanie Patrick' novels. Shooting in various locations, the story follows Lively's character who, after discovering that her family's airplane crash wasn't an accident, becomes an assassin to track down those responsible.
He will begin filming THE NEST later this year, alongside Carrie Coon. Sean Durkin is set to direct and this psychological thriller will follow an entrepreneur and his American family as their lives begin to take a twisted turn after morning into an English country manor.
Jude will next be seen in J.K. Rowling's FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD, in which he takes on the much-loved role of Albus Dumbledore, playing the professor in his younger years. With returning cast members Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Alison Sudol, and Dan Fogle, and David Yates at the helm as director, the much-anticipated sequel is set to be released next year on 16th November 2018.
Jude recently wrapped filming on Brady Corbet's musical drama VOX LUX, alongside Stacy Martin, in New York City.
Jude returned to the Barbican in April 2017 in a stage version of OBSESSION, adapted from the 1943 film by neo-realist director Luchino Visconti. As the lead role of 'Gino', Jude played a charming wanderer who engages in a passionate affair with a married woman, while plotting to murder her husband. The adaptation was directed by acclaimed Olivier Award-winning Dutch director Ivo Van Hove.
Premiering at The Venice Film Festival in 2016, Jude was seen in the HBO miniseries THE YOUNG POPE, created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, starring alongside Diane Keaton. In the eight part series, Jude played 'Pope Pius XIII', the newly elected pope struggling with new responsibilities. The show premiered on Sky Atlantic in the UK. That year we also saw Jude in Guy Ritchie's KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE: KING ARTHUR, a film adaptation of the classic Sir Lancelot story where he played 'Vortigern'.
Working with prolific director Michael Grandage for a second time, Jude was seen in GENIUS alongside Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Laura Linney. The film chronicles Max Perkin's time as the book editor of Scribner, where he oversaw works by Law's character, the American novelist Thomas Wolfe.
Recent projects include Paul Feig's comedy SPY, with Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne and Jason Statham. He played the lead role in Kevin McDonald's submarine drama BLACK SEA and featured in the award winning THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL directed by Wes Anderson. Prior to this, he played Karenin in Joe Wright's ANNA KARENINA and alongside Rooney Mara and Catherine Zeta-Jones and starred in Steven Soderbergh's final and highly acclaimed film SIDE EFFECTS.
For his early performance as Bosie in the film WILDE, opposite Stephen Fry and Vanessa Redgrave, he won the London Film Critics Circle Award and the Evening Standard Award. His American film debut was in the futuristic GATTACA opposite Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.
It was Law's performance as the charming Dickie Greenleaf in the late Anthony Minghella's THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY that brought him to the attention of a worldwide audience and garnered him his first Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination, for Best Supporting Actor. He won a BAFTA Award for the role. He worked with Minghella in two further films: COLD MOUNTAIN for which he was again nominated for Golden Globe and Academy Awards, this time as Best Actor, and the small-scale and intimate Breaking and Entering.
Other films include Sam Mendes' ROAD TO PERDITION, David Cronenberg's Existenz, Clint Eastwood's MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, Jean-Jacques Annaud's World War II epic ENEMY AT THE GATES, Mike Nichols' CLOSER, based on the original play by Patrick Marber, opposite Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. He starred in SKY CAPTAIN AND WORLD OF TOMORROW with Gwyneth Paltrow, and played ALFIE for director Charles Shyer. In addition, Law played supporting roles as Errol Flynn in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated epic THE AVIATOR, and in I HEART HUCKABEES directed by David O Russell. He starred with Sean Penn in ALL THE KING'S MEN and with Cameron Diaz in THE HOLIDAY. In 2007 he produced and starred in SLEUTH with Michael Caine, directed by Kenneth Branagh and scripted by Harold Pinter and in 2008 he starred with Norah Jones in Wong Kar Wei's first English language film, MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS. Also in 2008 he completed work on REPO MEN, a futuristic thriller in which he starred with Forrest Whittaker for director Miguel Sapochnik. He stepped into the late Heath Ledger's role in Terry Gilliam's THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS, a role he shared with Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell.
Law played a telling cameo as a cross-dressing model in Sally Potter's film RAGE which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2009 and had huge success as Dr Watson in Guy Ritchie's two SHERLOCK HOLMES films starring Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes. He will reprise his role for a third instalment of the film series. He also featured in Martin Scorsese's HUGO and in 2011 appeared in Steven Soderbergh's CONTAGION, Fernando Meireilles' 360 and voiced a role in the DreamWorks' animation GUARDIANS.
Law's theatre work has also been highly regarded, most recently in Michael Grandage's HENRY V for which Law received huge critical acclaim. In 1994 he created the role of Michael in Jean Cocteau's play LES PARENTS TERRIBLES for which he was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award for Outstanding Newcomer. The play was renamed INDISCRETIONS when it moved to Broadway and where he received a Tony nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
He has worked with director David Lan at London's Young Vic Theatre where he starred in 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE and also starred in Christopher Marlowe's DR FAUSTUS in a highly acclaimed performance. In 2005- 2006, Law was closely involved in the fund-raising efforts for the major refurbishment of the Young Vic Theatre. In 2009 he took on HAMLET for the Donmar Theatre's season in the West End, directed by Michael Grandage. The production, and his performance were critically acclaimed and the play transferred to Broadway in September 2009 where it broke box office records for a production of Shakespeare. In February 2010 Law won the London Critics' Circle award for the Best Shakespearean Performance and was nominated for both an Olivier and a Tony Award as Best Actor. In 2011, Jude returned to the stage at the Donmar Theatre in Eugene O'Neill's ANNA CHRISTIE and received rave reviews.
In 2007 Law was awarded the prestigious French Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres medal and in the same year won a Cesar Award for his contribution to cinema. In 2012 he received the prestigious Variety Award at the British Independent Film Awards. He is an Ambassador for the charity Peace One Day.
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JENNIFER EHLE is a two time Tony Award winner for her performances in Tom Stoppard's THE REAL THING, directed by David Leveaux and THE COAST OF UTOPIA, directed by Jack O'Brien. Jennifer has won a BAFTA Award for playing Jane Austen's "Lizzie Bennet", opposite Colin Firth, in the classic miniseries PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, directed by Simon Langton and was nominated for a BAFTA for her performance in Brian Gilbert's WILDE, with Stephen Fry.
Jennifer recently starred in J.T. Rogers' 2017 Tony Award winning Broadway play OSLO, directed by Bartlett Sher, for which she was nominated for a Tony for Best Lead Actress In A Play.
Ehle recently wrapped filming Ricky Tollman's RUN THIS TOWN opposite Ben Platt. She can next be seen in the Legendary Entertainment/Hulu drama series 40 NORTH and in Farhad Safinia's THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, opposite Natalie Dormer, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. She can currently be seen in Desiree Akhavan's THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST opposite Chloe Grace Moretz, which went on to win the Grand Jury Prize for US Drama at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, the festival's highest honor.
She can previously be seen in Ira Sachs' LITTLE MEN, THE REVISED FUNDEMENTALS OF CAREGIVING (written and directed by Rob Burnett) -both of which screened at Sundance, as well as Terence Davies' A QUIET PASSION opposite Cynthia Nixon, and in Anders Walter's I KILL GIANTS, opposite Zoe Saldana and Imogen Poots.
Ehle's other notable film credits include: Tom Hooper's multi-Academy Award-winning THE KING'S SPEECH, Kathryn Bigelow's DETROIT and ZERO DARK THIRTY, Steven Soderbergh's CONTAGION, George Clooney's THE IDES OF MARCH, Neil LaBute's POSSESSION, Istvan Szabo's SUNSHINE; and Sam Taylor Johnson's FIFTY SHADES franchise.
