Slow paced, but brilliant.

Rating: 8/10 (27 January 2017)

THIS IS AN ADULT MOVIE. It borders on tedium. It's raw, it's brutal, and often disturbing. But this shining moment in Camelot belongs solely to Natalie Portman. I have followed her career with great anticipation, from her auspicious opener as a precocious 14-year old in "The Professional" with Jean Reno, to a memorable performance as the young heroine in "V for Vendetta." But it seems that her later performances became frustratingly "spotty," culminating in her shockingly amateurish star turn in "Star Wars," with an equally bad Hayden Christensen. It seemed that Portman did not live up to the early potential of her blazing childhood debut. But in this biopic, she hit a home run with the bases loaded, in the bottom of the ninth. She was flat-out amazing. She didn't merely PLAY the role, she INHABITED IT. Many actors have tackled the role of this enduring American icon—many with a stronger physical similarity—but she owned the part, all of her past work leading to this singular performance. When the Oscars are given out at year's end, look for Portman to be a front runner. Kudos to a brief but brilliant John Hurt as the unnamed priest, and honorable mention to the Director of Photography's stark and bare camera work, managing to capture the incredible loneliness of a woman in utter disarray.