Jackie: Natalie Portman is Jackie Kennedy

I feel like ever since I was little, I have been obsessed with Jackie Kennedy.  Her poise, demeanor, smile, and style just drew me in.  I think I also admired her for being the victim of a rather lack luster marriage, yet she always seemed like she had it together.  I am not condemning JFK, but lets be honest here, would you want to marry him?  However your feelings were for JFK, I think many can agree that Jackie was to be noticed. With that said, I was surprised when my 85 year old grandmother complained that we had yet again, another Jackie movie.  I never watched the series starring Katie Holmes and am not sure what else is out there, but can assure you that this was a well done movie and I definitely think Jackie lovers all over or history buffs would enjoy it.

Our film begins with an interview just after JFK was murdered.  We have Jackie, starring Natalie Portman, and a journalist who has agreed to allow her to edit this interview and decide what is published.  The remainder of the film goes back and forth between the death of JFK and immediate dates after leading up to the interview and the interview itself.  Jackie not only was sitting next to her husband when he died, but she held his opened scull together to help from further bleeding, and had to tell their two children that their daddy would not be coming home.  The movie also portrayed the transition to Lyndon Johnson's presidency and how much support was given to ensure Jackie was taken care of.  Her main focus was that her husband received the best send-off possible and she would't listen to anyone who told her to do otherwise.   Security during this time was scary and many didn't feel a walking procession was the best idea, but Jackie did it anyway and had thousands of supporters doing the same.

This movie scored 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.6/10 on IMDB.  I would round up to an 8/10 as it was so well acted by not only Natalie Portman but also Peter Sarsgaard, who plays Bobby Kennedy.  The film really focused on the inner conflicts of Jackie during the darkest days of her life.  It was compelling and raw.  If you are looking for excitement or action, even mystery, this is not your film.  If you are looking for depth along with history then you have come to the right place.