Film Review - Jackie - Natalie Portman's exemplary performance

Jackie - Natalie Portman

While many film documentaries and dramatisations have canvassed the assassination of US President John F Kennedy in Dallas, Texas in 1963, few if any, have approached the subject solely from the perspective of the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. This film does just that.

Directed by Pablo Larrain and written by Noah Oppenheim this biopic covers the initial few days immediately following the assassination with carefully positioned flashbacks to earlier periods in the White House to give context to Jackie's role as First Lady. Based on a long interview given to Life magazine journalist, Theodore H White at Hyanis Port, Massachusetts by Jackie Kennedy, this is no sentimental, maudlin film but one which takes the viewer directly into a front row seat, almost as a witness.

The film is not long at just 91 minutes and relies heavily on recreated historical scenes through the eyes of Jackie both in first person voiceover narrator and in direct dialogue scenes. In such a story-telling process, there is almost a complete reliance on the central character to convey the events, the emotions and the impact. This is done superbly by Natalie Portman and this film should be seen as a triumph and high point of her acting career. Her performance captures Jacqueline Kennedy's poise, elegance, voice and understated steel resolve to ensure her husband is properly honoured in death while caring for her now fatherless-children. This is no mean feat as Portman only marginally resembles the real life woman and so must rely heavily on her own acting skills to compensate and achieve audience believability.

Filmed on location (during the funeral procession scenes several blocks of Washington had to be cordoned off) for historical accuracy and with supporting key roles filled by experienced actors (Peter Skarsgaard as Robert F Kennedy, Greta Gerwig as Nancy Tuckerman, Beth Grant as Lady Bird Johnson, Billy Crudup as Theodore H White, John Carroll Lynch as President Lyndon B Johnson and John Hurt as the Priest).

This is a film which brings a close human perspective to a much documented historical event in the United States and it would be surprising if the viewer did not come away with a greater appreciation if not deeper respect for Jackie Kennedy.