Jackie (2016)

My Review

Natalie Portman delivers an enthralling performance as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in “Jackie.” Hitherto known for portraying Padme Amidale in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005), Portman has since starred in a variety of roles but none with the depth of this part. She gives the audience a look into the private grief Mrs. Kennedy went through in the weeks following her husband’s assassination.

Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim gave her and the other actors some top-rate material to work with. It is generally believed to be historically accurate. Kudos to Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain for an outstanding English language directorial debut. Co-stars include Peter Sarsgaard as Bobby Kennedy, Billy Crudup as a reporter, Greta Gerwig as Jackie’s aide, Beth Grant as Lady Bird Johnson, John Carroll Lynch as Lyndon Johnson, John Hurt as a priest, Max Casella as Jack Valenti, Georgi Glenn as Rose Kennedy, Albain Venzo as Peter Lawford, and Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy.

The watchable “Jackie” was a modest hit as the box office for Fox Searchlight Pictures, LD Entertainment, Bliss Media, and Why Not Productions. It received three Oscar nods for Best Actress (Portman), Best Original Score (Mica Levi), and Best Costume Design. It was filmed in Paris and Washington, D. C.