Jackie

Jackie is a profound and riveting historical drama that was released in 2016. Directed by Pablo Larraín, the movie is an intense and dignified depiction of one of the most horrific incidents in American history - the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, as seen through the lens of his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, who witnesses the horrific event.

Natalie Portman takes on the titular role with a dramatic depth and palpable vulnerability that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Portman meticulously adopts Jackie's distinguished mid-Atlantic accent, bringing an eerie similarity with the real-life figure. Her interpretation of a simultaneously stoic and fragile Jackie Kennedy is impressive to anyone familiar with America's tragic history.

The movie heralds a unique narrative scope — rather than attempting to encapsulate the full span of Jackie's life, it predominantly focuses on the days that immediately followed the assassination. This approach afford a concentrated look into Jackie's psyche during a shattering period of grief and disarray.

The supporting cast only enhances Jackie's overall authenticity. Peter Sarsgaard delivers a nuanced performance as Robert F. Kennedy, grappling with the heavy burden of his brother's legacy. Greta Gerwig becomes Jackie's confidant and friend, Nancy Tuckerman, offering a gleaming ray of undeterred support amidst the abysmal anguish.

The script, expertly written by Noah Oppenheim, employs a nonlinear narrative, weaving Jackie's story in and out of time frames. This storytelling choice highlights the disorientation, trauma and sorrow that Jackie faced in the aftermath of her husband's assassination. Interviews, flashbacks, and real historical footage are interwoven to present the personal devastation alongside the political turmoil of the era.

One of the most striking aspects of the movie is the integration of Mica Levi’s haunting score. The music talentedly accompanies the narrative, becoming more instrumental than ornamental. The sombre compositions encapsulate the emotions of grief, loss, and resilience. Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematographer, Stéphane Fontaine, turns each frame into an exquisite tableau matching the historical setting.

The movie’s beauty is not only in its biographical portrayal, but it also exhibits Jackie's extraordinary efforts to preserve her husband's legacy. The film presents an acute focus on the famous televised tour of the White House that Jackie guided. This historic event symbolized Jackie's grace, sophistication, and the staunch will to safeguard the Kennedy legacy - the 'Camelot' myth.

Jackie is not purely a biodrama, neither is it just a historical drama. Instead, it is a remarkable portrait of bereavement and resilience portrayed through a woman who found herself at the centre of a national nightmare. With a rare dignity, it questions the formation of legacy, public persona versus private grief, and the heartrending journey of one woman transforming personal tragedy into a narrative that would define an era.

While this movie can be tough and heavy to watch at certain moments, it gives an unforgettable insight into one of the most iconic figures of American history. The grim reality of the assassination combined with Jackie Kennedy’s ceaseless courage makes it a compelling portrayal.

Jackie is an exemplary piece of cinema that not only offers a glance into an incident that shocked America but also provides a profound character study of a woman who was much more than just the President's wife. It encapsulates the struggle between a public figure and a grief-stricken widow momentarily lost without her life's companion.

Natalie Portman's captivating performance, combined with robust support from the ensemble cast, promising direction from Pablo Larraín, and an engrossing script, results in a film of haunting beauty. Jackie is a masterful fusion of real historical events with intimate human emotions, offering audiences an emotionally rich, thought-provoking experience.