'There comes a time in man's search for meaning when he realizes that there are no answers.'

Rating: 5/10 (19 March 2017)

November 22, 1963 is a day everyone remembers as one of the more devastating moments in our history. That day that JFK was murdered was a hole in time and it is not likely anyone will ever be able to recreate that national and global sensitive loss, Writer Noah Oppenheim and Chilean director Pablo Larraín have tried and have shifted the national grief to a micro study of how that incident affected Jacqueline Kennedy. It works to a degree and to a degree it flounders in superfluous details – minor distractions such as Jackie's excessive smoking and the often-whiny timing that replaces her grief.
Opening the film with a journalist (Billy Crudup) interviewing Jackie (Natalie Portman) sets the pace for a re-run of the brief Kennedy time in the Whitehouse and Jackie's important role in restoring the history of the living space of many Presidents before JFK. Footage (re-enacted in black and white with Portman) reminds us of the extent of that renovation and pride in our history. The close relationship with her 'secretary' Nancy (Greta Gerwig), and her protection by Bobby Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard) play a key role, but the impressive decision for Jackie to walk with the funeral cortege is matched only by her prolonged, sensitive discussion with her priest (John Hurt). Much of the rest of the overly long film is tedious and burdened with one of the weakest and most intrusive musical soundtracks ever written.
Natalie Portman's performance is fine – whether the viewer can accept her interpretation of this difficult role is a personal decision. Despite the over-stressed Camelot plagiarism the film does take us back to that fateful day and how we all deal with that is again a personal matter.