Watched "Jackie" tonight...
So, our immediate family is blessed to have a voting SAG member that receives DVD movies "for consideration" for awards, many of which are still in theaters. It's become a family tradition to pass movies back and forth and provide our own commentary on what we thought prior to the SAG awards....unfortunately, we've grown so much that most of the movies are still within the family circulation after the SAG voting is done, but, regardless, I love this time of year because my wife and I get the chance to watch a ton of movies for free that are currently in circulation (as an aside, music/musical lovers should check out "La La Land". It's a treat!)
Tonight, we finally got a chance to watch "Jackie", a movie that both my wife and I had been waiting anxiously to watch. So, after the kids were in bed, we settled down with a glass of wine and watched the movie.
First, let me say, if you aren't prepared for a highly emotional film, don't watch. The movie begins with ominous music in the credits and the first fifteen minutes are enough to ratchet up the emotional strain. My wife grabbed my hand in a vice grip and didn't let go until the end and she cried throughout most of the film.
Natalie Portman is, frankly, amazing in her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy. She not only nails the scenes of the White House tour practically mimicking Jackie note for note, she passes far beyond that to tap into the raw emotions that Mrs Kennedy must have surely experienced during that time. She eloquently portrays the public versus private dichotomy of the former First Lady.
I applaud the film for not shying away from little details which might seem unseemly, like the fact that Jackie smoked or the boorishness displayed by the Johnson people on Air Force One as it traveled from Dallas to Washington.
Overall, this was a difficult film to watch, mainly because of the subject matter. However, I think the positives outweigh any negatives of the film. Portman truly does bring to life the public and private persona of Jacqueline Kennedy: debutant, wife, mother, strong independent woman...and makes her believable onscreen. I applaud the mixing of historic footage and film, which I thought worked seamlessly.
The film is not without its flaws, but it is a beautiful testament to the will and character of an amazing woman.
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