There are a number of traps and obstacles filmmakers face when making a biopic. It grows even more challenging when the film’s focus is a beloved historical and cultural figure. “Jackie”, director Pablo Larraín’s portrait of Jackie Kennedy, would seem to be a prime example. But this film avoids many of these routine complications by setting itself up as something strikingly unique right out of the gate.
Writer Noah Oppenheim first conceived “Jackie” as an HBO miniseries but the project evolved into a compact, tightly-wound 98 minute feature. It tells the story of Jackie Kennedy but not in the traditional sense. Instead it restricts its focus to the four days between the assassination of her husband President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 to the state funeral on November 25th. It’s told almost entirely from her perspective yet it’s much more than a detailed historical account. The film’s interest is in exploring Jackie’s state of mind during those impossibly traumatic few days. It does so with equal amounts of fact and speculation.
The narrative framework comes in the form of an interview. Billy Crudup, credited as simply The Journalist (but based on Life magazine journalist Theodore White), arrives at the Kennedy’s Hyannis Port compound to interview the former First Lady. He’s met by a pale, drained Jackie (played with uncanny ferocity by Natalie Portman). Throughout their mercurial and sometimes contentious interview it becomes clear Jackie is the one dictating the terms of what will be written. When she lights a cigarette she emphatically tells the journalist “I don’t smoke.” – a clear signal to him that she controls the message.
Through the interview we revisit those agonizing four days the way Jackie recalls them. All of the iconic imagery is there – the ’61 Lincoln convertible, the pink bloodstained Chanel dress, Jackie and Caroline kneeling at JFK’s casket. Larraín presents these scenes through well detailed recreations and archived historical footage. But this movie is more interested in the time between those well-documented moments. What did Jackie do? Better yet what was she feeling?
Because of this focus “Jackie” maintains a keen psychological edge to it. You see it as she maneuvers through an emotional haze of grief and anxiety. Larraín and Oppenheim want us inside of Jackie’s head as they themselves ponder her internal reactions to such painful and uncertain events. Portman runs with it, diving so deeply into the psyche of her character that we completely forget the two look nothing alike. You buy into her personal struggles and her wranglings with others including her compassionate brother-in-law Bobby (played by Peter Sarsgaard who is so good here) and Lyndon B. Johnson (John Carroll Lynch).
Surprisingly this isn’t a puff piece aimed at reinforcing Jackie’s venerated cultural image. It doesn’t shy away from her weaknesses or blemishes. At the same time it doesn’t shortchange her strength and fortitude. At no point does the film question her resilience or integrity. If anything it humanizes her and makes her a more sympathetic and relatable person especially considering the overwhelming pressures she faced.
This movie’s unusual approach to the biopic is sure to catch a lot of people off guard. In some of its deeper internal moments it’s almost hallucinogenic, maybe too much so on occasion. Mica Levi’s moody score is a big contributor. It plays prominently from start to finish and blankets the entire film with a steady sense of unease. And then we get back to Portman and her sublime performance. It’s peculiar and off-kilter, perfectly so. That makes it a wonderful fit for this unusual but thoroughly satisfying portrait.
VERDICT – 4 STARS
I do want to see this as I’m a sucker for bio-pics that don’t play by the rules. Especially as they prefer to talk about this rather than the usual tropes.
This one definitely doesn’t play by the rules. It’s eccentricity really stands out and in a good way.
Natalie Portman was SO good in this. I wish I could just give her the Oscar.
She’s really good. I thought her performance was a little jarring at first, but when I saw the peculiarity of the movie I begin to feel her performance was a perfect fit. Does that make sense?
Wait a minute, JFK dies? Spoiler alert!
Nice review Keith. While I am very interested in seeing Natalie Portman’s performance, especially since it feels like ages since she was last in a movie, I haven’t been able to push myself into seeing this, mostly because it looks a little bit like a standard biopic, though I’ll probably catch it when it hits VOD.
I know. I gave away a pretty major plot point! But I think that was in the trailer soooo…😀
As I mentioned it’s far from a standard biopic which was a big surprise for me. It bucks the biopic formula at several turns. Pretty refreshing.
Hang on…JFK’s dead?! Since when?!
Oops! Spoiler!
Definitely want to check this out at some stage. Great review Keith!
Thanks Zoe. It surprised me. Are you a Portman fan? I’ve always been a bit mixed but she really nails it.
I am not really a fan of hers, to be honest. Sounds like she got this down pat though.
She doesn’t top my list either. I think she’s terribly inconsistent. But this movie is so unusual that her performance fits in perfectly.
This looks very fascinating. Want to see it for the work of Natalie Portman.
I think it may be her best performances. It’s such a interesting biopic. Just slightly off-kilter which I absolutely loved.
How refreshing to have a biopic that isn’t overly predictable. Will have to make time for it, though I’ve been mad busy lately.
Same here my friend. I was able to squeeze in Jackie and The Founder (wrapping up the review on it). Still have several things I need to see.
I’m so very behind. I promised that I’d watch more films in cinema but have been so busy and had other things to do.
Nice review, Keith. Didn’t like it as much as you but definitely admired Portman’s performance and Mica Levi’s score. The psychological aspect of the film is interesting too, but what frustrated me was how little Larrain explored it. Struck me as somewhat empty.
Thanks so much. I can see where this film may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I think the movie’s weirdness is what won me over. It made it feel unique.
I really admired the movie, I didn’t fall in love with it, but it was very unique for a biopic. Even more so than Portman the music was the stand out – all those scenes of her walking around could be tiresome but thanks to the music they weren’t
The score was fabulous, wasn’t it? It infused the movie with this peculiar, tense mood. I’m with you though. I wouldn’t say I absolutely love it either. But I was really impressed with its willingness to take chances.
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