Review of Jackie (2016) by Gustavo B — 14 Nov 2016

Everything it's been said about the life of the Kennedy's sometime called Camelot. The assassination, the affairs, the missile crisis and even the nepotism in the family to govern the United States. But perhaps one of the most complex and intrigue characters is the first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Pablo Larrain (El Club, No) directs this poetic tale of the most significant passages in the life of Jackie. Natalie Portman perform the main role with a group of well know stars. Greta Gerwing, Peter Sarsgaard, Bill Crudup and John Hurt.

The film focus from a female point of view of the life in the White House, the assassination of JFX and the early retirement as a fist lady. The main arc is the conversation between Jackie and political journalist Theodore H. White. driving the story into a flashback style without the typical gimmick, just down and dirty facts as well haunting memories.

The audience is able to dig deeper into her personality, her biggest fears but also her darkest feelings, like been married to the most power in the world. But also discover how one of the most glamorous first ladies is also a human being, a person who deal with the establishment, showing that doesn't matter how much a president is loved, his dignity after he dies is disrespected by any member of the government.

Larrrain brings his documentary styles with a touch of drama to a film that seems to me like a poetry rather than a biopic. His point of view leaves Jackie as the main protagonist, a metaphor that could be read one of the scenes where Jackie and the audience are trying to understand what is her real legacy for America and the world. Fashion may be?

Natalie Portman is amazing as Jackie, but honestly her accent annoys me, but that's the way she perform. Overall, Larrain film style haunts him in this production, because he leaves his political critique and turn Jackie story into a sort of poetic biopic borderline Terrence Malick films.