Jackie

7/12 Quite possibly Natalie Portman’s finest performance. I haven’t seen her complete filmography, but the scene where she breaks down in front of the reporter before getting a grip and asserting herself makes me think so. Glorious score as well from Mica Levi, and the breadth of ideas in Noah Oppenheim’s screenplay makes for a rewatchable film. However, we could have had an even greater film if the screenplay received a little tightening.  The costumes were magnificent, the cinematography even more so, and the direction stunning. I really loved how Pablo Larrain portrayed the tumultuous week Jackie had; it was gloomy and affecting. Certainly unique. Just a shame that the quality of his female-led films has been on a downward trajectory since then… but this film is still enough to make Larrain one of my favorite directors.   “I never wanted fame. I just became a Kennedy.” gagged me so bad… Jackie’s conversations with the priest were also healing. Her realizations as well (there will be great progress, but there won’t be another Camelot) were profound to me.  My god, this is an absolutely monumental work. What Natalie Portman does here is simply special.