Portman is uncanny in this portrait of courage

Rating: 9/10 (3 March 2017)

JACKIE (2016) ***1/2 Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, John Hurt, Richard E. Grant, Caspar Phillipson, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Grant, Max Casella. Portman scored a richly deserved Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in this excellently produced biopic of The First Lady in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband President John F. Kennedy detailing her emotions, actions and reactions to a journalist (Crudup) with flashbacks to the infamous date that changed history forever as well as her days of happier times including her television escort of the White House. Noah Oppenheim's clear-eyed screenplay is a welcome resolve to the usual histrionics and hackneyed attempts of the past to re-create the days of "Camelot" while director Pablo Larrain elicits an uncanny turn by Portman with her dreamily, breathy near brittle voice and still-waters-run-deep demeanor in a portrait of courage for the ages. Immaculate production design by Jean Rabasse, gorgeous costuming by Madeline Fontaine and handsome cinematography by Stephane Fontaine complete the picture.