Review of Jackie (2016) by James T — 26 Jan 2017

(4 out of 5 stars) It has now been a few days since I have watched "JACKIE" and it still lingers with me. For some reason, I keep going back to this film in my mind. All in all, I suppose it is safe to say, I loved it.

Natalie Portman is terrific. The cinematography and score deliver a truly haunting experience in this intimate portrayal of the few days between Kennedy's assassination and the funeral itself. Natalie taps into a layer of JACKIE that is beautiful, broken, strong and at times downright disturbing.

There is a strong sense of dark intensity in this quiet telling. You feel as if the entire thing can crack open at any moment. I admit, there were times I thought Portman was being a bit "cartoony" in her portrayal of JACKIE during the White House tours and in front of the press.

But, then I looked up some actual interviews and footage from the time and was left in awe. Portman was delivering every quirk, whisper, forced confidence and allure JACKIE possessed. The assassination scenes are finally horrific.

For the film being so subdued, when the moment of history finally comes, it is shocking in a way no other film on the subject matter has tackled. For once, a film seemed to capture the absolute surprise, chaos, terror and emotion of the moment.

The shots of JACKIE realizing what had just happened, as the car races past the crowds hit hard! It is an unexpected emotional punch that leads to a fever-like dream in the days after...