1196. Jackie

Jackie
2016
Directed by Pablo Larrain

I'm surprised that Natalie Portman didn't win Best Actress for her performance in 2016. I would think portraying Jackie Kennedy would be uniquely challenging, as we have so much footage to compare to Portman's performance. On the other hand, it probably gave Portman plenty to work with while researching the role, making it easier in some ways. She does a fantastic job of inhabiting the role of Jackie, even if I didn't love the movie.

The film focuses on the period immediately after JFK's assassination, when Jackie is coping with her husband's death. As her old life collapses around her, Jackie tries to protect her children and deal with her trauma.

God, being a First Lady would suck. You're just there for the photographs while your husband cheats on you constantly and men tell you what to do all the time. It would have been fascinating if the film went back farther into JFK's presidency, but this movie is about Jackie, so I understand why they chose the timeframe they did. It was moving watching Jackie attempt to make sense of things with the eyes of the world on her.

I actually thought the interview scenes with the journalist seemed out of character for her. She was much harder and more defensive in those scenes. I guess it just shows how the events of her life hardened and changed her. I enjoyed her conversations with the priest the most, when she was at her most vulnerable.

Definitely an Oscar worthy performance, I have words for the Academy clowns regarding this one.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The only character that doesn't possess a real life counterpart is the priest.

JFK has about one minute and forty seconds of screentime.