2016. Dir: Pablo Larraín.
A phenomenal performance by Natalie Portman playing Jackie Kennedy, as we’re taken through several moments surrounding her time as First Lady, including the immediate and brutal aftermath of the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy.
Chilean director Pablo Larrain, in his first English language film, delivers a really interesting, intimate biopic. Its a very personal look at one of the most famous First Ladies in history, emphasised with the camera often focusing in on Jackie’s eyes. One scene in particular is incredibly powerful, as she tries to clean drops of blood from her face in her room aboard Air Force One.
Portman absolutely sells this film, her incredible performance, with voice and all the mannerisms nailed on, she manages to portray several “versions” of Jackie through the film depending on if she’s alone, needing to get what she wants from someone, or having to put on a performance for the watching world.
The film is elevated by an incredible orchestral score by Mica Levi, that often gives it a strange, eery feel to the film as the strings rise and fall away. The effect works perfectly in tandem with Pormans excellent turn, to present the beauty and elegance of the Kennedy’s world, and the tragic events that surrounded them.
The interview scenes, where Jackie is talking with Theodore White (Billy Crudup) are sadly not as strong as the looks into her days following her husbands death, but Portman does well to convey Jackie as a strong, commanding presence who immediately states that she will be in control of this article. Overall though its kind of an unnecessary device to split up the events, and I don’t know if just presenting them in order, and perhaps dropping the interview angle, wouldn’t have worked just as well.
Visually the film is beautiful, presented with a slight graininess to it which I loved, the sets and costumes look perfect, and the recreation of Jackie’s famous televised tour of the White House is brilliantly done, flicking between black and white “broadcast footage”, and her nervous perspective, being helped along by her assistant Nancy (Greta Gerwig).
In the hands of a lesser director this film could’ve easily come off as blatant Oscar-bait for Portman to grab a second Academy Award (which she’d deserve), and although at times it does feel like its straying into that territory by showing off just how well its been made, I think JACKIE is a genuinely intriguing film and one that is definitely worth checking out.
[Fun fact: The Lego head used to make the poster at the top is actually a Natalie Portman minifigure, taken from her character Padme in STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES.]
that lego guy 