Possibly the most significant political assassination of the 20th century, the film focuses on the time between JFK’s assassination and state funeral where Jackie Kennedy (Natalie Portman) is struggling to balance private grief with public decorum as the transition to the Johnson administration is hurried along.
The interview that the former First Lady gave Theodore H. White (Billy Crudup) from Life Magazine just a week after her husband's assassination serves as the framing device of the film. This is where the steeliness and control that Jackie Kennedy had to rapidly acquire is first demonstrated. There are flashbacks of the assassination (which is recreated in all of its unflinching horror), the events leading up to the state funeral and of past happier times for the Kennedys. This approach works really well and gives a very rounded view of the events and gives the viewer the ability to see the different facets of Jackie's personality.
For me, I found the interactions with her priest, Father Richard McSorley (John Hurt) the most insightful and interesting as it felt as though the true Jackie was being shown. The relationship with the other Kennedys, particularly Bobby Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard) could have been more explored as there was clearly more that could have been shown here.
The cinematography is incredibly intimate and almost intrusive. Portman is in pretty much every frame with frequent lingering close-ups of her face which provides an almost claustrophobic and alienating effect for the viewer and allowed Portman to demonstrate her extraordinary acting skills.
The film score (Mica Levi) deserves a special mention and is an absolutely sensational symphony of grief which carries the film beautifully.
Verdict: A stunning film with a wonderful film score and an almost certain second Oscar in the bag for Portman's poised, elegant and intelligent performance.
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