Review: “Jackie”
After seeing a good number of biopics over the past couple of years, I’ve learned what makes them good and what doesn’t. In 2015, we saw “Steve Jobs” receive fantastic reviews because of Michael Fassbender’s performance, and for the fact it was only a slice of his life. I recently watched the biopic on Jesse Owens, “Race.” This was very mediocre mostly because it tried to fit in too many aspects of Owens’ life. The new Pablo Larrain biopic, “Jackie,” has its flaws, but does a nice job in not finding the need to show everything about Jackie Kennedy.
“Jackie” follows the aftermath of Jackie Kennedy’s life (played by Natalie Portman) after her husband’s death while president. Larrain attempts to paint a portrait of what Kennedy was like prior to her husband’s death, and after the death by showing her poise and strength as her greatest qualities.
As expected from me at least, Portman’s performance was excellent. People apparently questioned this casting decision thinking that Portman couldn’t pull of being such a powerful woman in history. Instead, it seemed like she got lost into the character. I think I was the most engaged that I’ve been with a character all year. She exceeded anyone’s expectations. The rest of the performances were what made up for the problems in the plot as well.
I wish Larrain portrayed Kennedy as more of a strong woman. In the historical context, Jackie was one of the most impactful First Lady’s of all time. Some of the scenes confused me as far as why she wasn’t portrayed as the person she really was. Too many times, I felt that this movie should have been reminiscent biopic about an iconic figure, rather than a depressed Jackie Kennedy talking about the death of her husband to a kind of arrogant reporter.
While I enjoyed the fact that Larrain never felt the need to show every little part of her life, I still think that this film didn’t do her justice. The flashbacks were the best parts because, the audience got to see some of the reforms that she asked of in the White House. I just wish the director took the story further. I never truly understood why she was so strong based off of this movie because all I got was her sense of grief.
While there was holes in the plot, the dialogue was actually very well written. A lot of Portman’s signature lines were very emotionally driven, and were the most genuine points of the film. It’s too bad not enough was done with the story to enhance even more emotion for me.
While Larrain has been said to be a predominately successful director, this was a slight disappointment. Portman and her surrounding cast of Greta Gerwig and Peter Sarsgaard were great, but they were a part of a very flawed plot surrounding them. The flashback scenes in the White House were very nicely developed, but they were mixed in with a messy and peculiar interview session between Portman’s character, and the journalist. I’m feeling mixed feelings.
