Review of Jackie (2016) by Jeff A — 21 Oct 2017

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou.

I find most bio pics to be gruesomely earnest and formulaic, but when a film transcends the usual traps, it can be a thing of real beauty. This one gave me a deeper feeling for the period and left me haunted with the moods that surely accompanied the instantaneous, brutal end to that fleeting period where there "was a Camelot".

A degree of ambiguity and lack of sugar coating made for a more convincing therefore engrossing experience. The film does convey Jackie's savvy, resolve and poise without needing to dwell and rub all our noses in it. There is also a compelling, pervasive melancholy and one gets a sense that she was not especially fun to be around.

Natalie Portman was of course outstanding in the lead role but I also think we have Chilean director Pablo Larrain to thank for bringing so much nuance. This one really got under my skin and stayed with me, so I give it two thumbs way up!