Jackie (2016) - Film Review

Chilean director Pablo Larrain filming practically back to back with Neruda, filmed on his native country about another historical figure. It can't be easy to tackle such famous people as topics, possibly attacking viewers already made up opinions of them. But to do it twice at the same time and to do it well is quite a feat for any director.

As a director, Larrain is quite political, coming from a political family that doesn't actually agree with his ideology. His short but impressive list of films are very political indeed, especially his most well known being his film, No. Jackie is his first film made in English, and I had an intriguing question as to why the brilliant Chilean director would decide to direct a film about Jackie Kennedy.

It's covers the following week from the tragic assassination, ignoring very much of the main man himself and being totally focused on the titular First Lady. It displays her courage and vanity, whilst channeling not just hers, but the nation's and beyond's grief for the lost of a great man and husband. Seeing her not just as the First Lady, but as a wife, a widow, and a grieving mother, who, at that moment of grief had to move from the White House, their home, console their two children and organise a funeral worthy of her Husband's legacy, showing her love and devotion to her late husband. All of this while dealing with the new and all too eager Lyndon B. Johnson (played by John Caroll Lynch) administration and the rest of Kennedy's grieving family, namely the brother in law, Bobby Kennedy (played by Peter Sarsgaad).

We're introduced night at the time after the assassination, with who I can only imagine is LIFE magazine's journalist, Theodore H. White (played by Billy Crudup) who interviewed Mrs Kennedy at this different time. Larrain brilliantly fleshes out the story with balanced flashbacks of the tragic, horrid moments and Mrs Kennedy's vintage tour of the White House vefore the even which displays the importance pf public image and relations, her fashion and her flamboyant taste and style which is done with strong expressionism, using vibrant colour yet still retaining maximum authenticity.

The casting of Natalie Portman as Jackie was actually a demanded condition of Larrain when accepting to direct a film, and you can see why. Larrain stating that they had to look like the prominent lady. Portman is simply incredible, would very surprised if she doesn't receive the Oscar for best leading actress. You can tell she's done her homework studying what footage must have been available to her, and giving a performance showing an unknown humanity, a sternness and vanity of Jackie Kennedy.

It does question the state of today's States but without getting political. It's not going to be everyone's state, being captivating but not necessarily a riveting drama, however what must be appreciated about this film is the craftsmanship, a visual masterpiece from Larrain coupled with Levi's score and Portman's incredible performance.