It's difficult to like Natalie Portman's portrayl of Jackie Kennedy but that's kind of the point. Jackie is a cold, strange film that gets us no closer to understanding the former First Lady. It captures a moment in time - the days following the assassination of her husband John F. Kennedy, with flashbacks to their marriage - with the only real relationships being between Jackie and her assistant Nancy (Greta Gerwig) and Priest (John Hurt).
Portman is quite rightly Oscar-nominated for her Jackie and is a strong contender for the Best Actress gong this weekend. She nails Jackie's mannerisms and voice perfectly, combining being firmly in control with a sense of desperation and unease about losing her stature. She seems more interested in keeping up appearances and her sense of duty following the assassination - understanding her and her husband's legacy and place in history - but we come out of the film none the wiser about the real Jackie.
The point of Jackie isn't very clear - as an insight into her, it doesn't work but it does capture an extraordinary historical moment that no-one will ever forget. Mica Levi's score is fantastic - regimental with that eerie horror movie undertone. When we do see what happened in Texas, it's devastating and you feel for Jackie but never do we really warm to her as a person.
Watch the film for Portman's standout performance, just don't expect any mysteries to be revealed. You may also come out after 99 minutes thinking 'What was the point of that?'.
3/5 White House colour schemes
Watch it for: Portman. Exquisite.
Watch out for: You know it's coming, but when the gunshots come...
It's difficult to like Natalie Portman's portrayl of Jackie Kennedy but that's kind of the point. Jackie is a cold, strange film that gets us no closer to understanding the former First Lady. It captures a moment in time - the days following the assassination of her husband John F. Kennedy, with flashbacks to their marriage - with the only real relationships being between Jackie and her assistant Nancy (Greta Gerwig) and Priest (John Hurt).
Portman is quite rightly Oscar-nominated for her Jackie and is a strong contender for the Best Actress gong this weekend. She nails Jackie's mannerisms and voice perfectly, combining being firmly in control with a sense of desperation and unease about losing her stature. She seems more interested in keeping up appearances and her sense of duty following the assassination - understanding her and her husband's legacy and place in history - but we come out of the film none the wiser about the real Jackie.
The point of Jackie isn't very clear - as an insight into her, it doesn't work but it does capture an extraordinary historical moment that no-one will ever forget. Mica Levi's score is fantastic - regimental with that eerie horror movie undertone. When we do see what happened in Texas, it's devastating and you feel for Jackie but never do we really warm to her as a person.
Watch the film for Portman's standout performance, just don't expect any mysteries to be revealed. You may also come out after 99 minutes thinking 'What was the point of that?'.
3/5 White House colour schemes
Watch it for: Portman. Exquisite.
Watch out for: You know it's coming, but when the gunshots come...
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