Jackie

Movie Name: Jackie
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Pablo Larrain

Stars: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, John Hurt, Richard E. Grant, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Grant, Max Casella, Corey Johnson, Caspar Phillipson, Ralph Brown

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
View Trailer Here

Synopsis:

Celebrated director Pablo Larrain is back, following his equally well received "Neruda" also from this year. "Jackie" which was originally intended to be directed by Darren Aronofsky (who instead decided to produce), focuses on the figure of Jackie Kennedy, during the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas in 1963, and the events that follow that dramatic and traumatic occurrence in her life. The film introduces Mrs. Kennedy speaking with a journalist in order to give her perspective of the occurrences, and through her recollections, the events that unfolded during and after the assassination come to life. We also get further context into Mrs. Kennedy's life through a few iconic events that took place in her life as a First Lady, namely the broadcast from the White House in 1961, when she was involved in redecorating the residence of the President.
"Jackie" is a fantastic film that gives insight into one of the most dramatic events in the life of the USA as a country, and how that affected the life of the President's wife and children, in the immediate days following the assassination. The film is a character study, following the unravel of a woman who witnessed an horrific and dramatic moment, the assassination of her husband and father of her children, a man who was also the President of a nation. The mix and turmoil of emotions that come from this woman are all centered on the brilliant performance of Natalie Portman, who creates a performance that initially feels a bit stylized, but that as the film continues starts peeling away layers of how that woman is dealing with death, loss, uncertainty, fear and anger. The film manages to perfectly capture the ambience of the 60s, thanks to some brilliant production design and stunning cinematography (from Jean Rabasse and Stephane Fontaine respectively) and features a brilliant supporting cast, which includes luminaries such as Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig and John Hurt. A very good film worth watching.