Jackie * * * * 1/2

   After all the years that have passed,  all the conspiracy theories, all the pulpy biographies, all the gossip, all the scrutiny of both factual and scandalous intent, all the documentaries, you could be forgiven for thinking it would be impossible to present a credible re-telling of the most famous of America’s first ladies, but this film does just that.

Nat as Jack - and doing it well.

    In almost complete disregard to what went on before or after in her life Jackie focuses on that most pivotal point - the assassination of her husband and the impact upon her. This one instance from her life speaks volumes about her. It explains and enforces and justifies her legendary stature.

    We are brutally reminded that to her it was real.  It was awful beyond belief. To us, it was the assassination of a president.  To Jackie Kennedy her husband was shot in the head as she sat beside him.

    In the hours and days that follow she floated in a world of grief, pain and confusion.

    Without histrionics or simple demonstration, we enter her world of aloneness, fear and confusion. At times we are in awe of her strength and determination and at times we wonder if she has gone temporarily insane.  Probably both were true.

      The style is not what you might expect: Director Pablo Larrain creates an unworldly dream like quality in many of the scenes, just as one might experience when in shock.

    The story is told in two ways:  Paramount is our direct witness of her behaviour and reaction to the event and the days that followed: especially the support and protection given to her by her brother-in-law, Robert Kennedy. Another is a reenactment of a famous Life Magazine interview she gave a week after the funeral. The interviewer discusses with her the documentary she had recently participated in - A Tour of the Whitehouse: parts of that documentary are shown in actuality and parts are re-enacted.   It was from this interview that the  “Camelot” analogy came about, mostly by her suggestion. She was a very confident and forceful interviewee.

     Natalie Portman plays Jackie Kennedy in probably her most powerful and persuasive performance yet - and for Nat that’s saying something.

     I found Jackie to be an hypnotically beautiful, and deeply moving film.