Inside Jackie's Head

Rating: 7/10 (11 December 2016)

"Jackie" leaves a mark, yet it might not be what the film makers expected. It feels like a passionate project, with pretty impressive depictions of the era, with cinematography that gives you the feel of the era, or at times, a documentary, realistic look. This is a positive. Also, we have a remarkable movie score which is going to haunt you there and for days after you attend the film. The best part of the film is probably Portman's turn, a much better turn than the one in "Black Swan". Although she looks very little like the first lady, she conveys with much passion the turmoil and insecurities after the tragic day. To balance and put some light in the film, we're treated to a "tour" of the White House, and how it became a type of Camelot while the Kennedy's lived there. Still, we see the film, understand, and appreciate it; however, I'm not sure that I really enjoyed the experience. I wasn't touched, as much as I was jolted by the recreation of that day, and there's very little subtlety in the film. After a while, we feel like we are being pounded, and we end up a bit drained.
Natalie does a very good job with her intimate approach. She's intense and able to give us an idea of what it feels to be a public figure in good and bad times. She's after all a human being who was apparently a contradiction to herself. Since she appears to love the spotlight and benefits of the good times, it's quite a shock to learn that she doesn't want much of what comes with the position. When the reporter comes to learn about her point of view, she taunts him with lines and appears to know what he expects only to kill much of what he needs from her. Alternatively, breaking down and regaining her composure, we see her human side, and the manipulative touches that are not exactly something we expected. She's a smart woman, with professional ties to this reporter, and we wonder what her motivations are for sharing the experiences with him.
For a while, I was deeply engaged by the film, but it started getting monotonous. It didn't lose any quality, but it remained a steady delivery of information, and it began to feel like a boring documentary. It was rescued by some particular moments when the leading actors brought back some intensity to the performances; however, it was not enough to invigorate it and give it the punch it needed.
As a movie, it is a different portrayal of an event, something that has been discussed and analyzed quite a bit. The director managed to put together an artistic piece, a dark immersion into a sad time in history that aimed for more intimacy but never quite got there. In the end, it will be considered a good film. Whether it touched us, it is still debatable.