Review of Jackie (2016) by Kevin M — 17 Feb 2017

I'm not a historian, but I think it's pretty obvious that the JFK assassination is one of the most talked-about and controversial events in the history of the United States. Jackie is about JFK's legacy and the woman who knew him better than anyone else.

Natalie Portman's extremely complex performance is the centerpiece of the film, and she delivers on all counts. Watching this movie was an extremely uncomfortable experience, as it should be: the forefront of that being Jackie's reaction to it all.

A particular scene of her sobbing uncontrollably into a mirror is one of the most impressive pieces of acting I've seen in recent years. But it's not only that scene that stood out, as the entire performance is unforgettable.

If it's accurate, the film portrays Jackie Kennedy as being awfully smug and pretentious. With that being said, the viewer is constantly reminded of how traumatic of an experience she went through, and asks how we would feel if we were put into the same position.

This is an extremely dark movie, made only sadder by the grating soundtrack. They also do a great job of bringing the 60's back to life- notably the famous White House tour Jackie Kennedy gave was filmed in black and white, which I thought was a successful attempt to reimagine the way it was filmed originally.

On the downside, there are scenes that drag. Given the rather brief 95 minute running time, that left me a little surprised- aside from that, I can't complain. Jackie is the complete package: proper tone, accurate setting, and above all, an unforgettable performance from Natalie Portman that will more than likely win her another Oscar.