Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband's historic legacy.
Take a look back at the talented actors and actresses who took home a Golden Globe for Best Actor/Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama since the category was created in 1951.
This movie is a portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman). Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband's assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a portrait of the First Lady as she fights to establish her husband's legacy and the world of "Camelot" that she created and loved so well.Written by
Fox Searchlight Pictures
It proved to be impossible to shoot at the historic location on Elm Street near Dealey Plaza where John F. Kennedy was assassinated, as it is now a busy thoroughfare, and also a tourist attraction. Fittingly, the production found a location near the nation's capital to stand-in. Producer Scott Franklin recalled: "We found a great stretch of highway in Maryland. It had similar overpasses, and there, we were able to put the camera on a crane attached to a car for a different point of view. Natalie was in the car the whole time. She did all of her own work that day, no stunt doubles, and we used all of it. It was a really tough and emotional day. We wanted to be true to the events, yet also sensitive. Kennedy's death was truly violent and grisly, but I think (Director) Pablo (Larraín) did a great job of walking the line. He re-creates it in a way that is almost lyrical, and very respectful." See more »
Goofs
When Jackie is drinking and listening to "Camelot," a closeup shows her pour vodka into a glass sitting on a hardback book with the title and author clearly visible - "The Brontë Cabinet: Three Lives in Nine Objects" by Deborah Lutz. The book was only published in 2015. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
The Journalist:
Mrs. Kennedy? They told me to come up. And I'm so sorry for your loss.
Jackie Kennedy:
Have you read what they've been writing? Krock and Merriman and all the rest?
The Journalist:
Yes, I have.
Jackie Kennedy:
Merriman's such a bitter man. It's been just one week. Already they're treating him like some dusty old artifact to be shelved away. That's no way to be remembered.
The Journalist:
And how would you like him remembered, Mrs. Kennedy?
Jackie Kennedy:
[stammering]
I...
Jackie Kennedy:
You understand that I will be editing this conversation just in case I don't say exactly what I...
[...] See more »
I'm not really familiar with Pablo Larraín's work. I hadn't seen any of his other films prior to watching Jackie. And yet I was still very excited for it because it sounded like something that was absolutely my cup of tea. Hearing reports that Academy members weren't liking it very much, and then hearing exactly why (because it wasn't your usual biopic and seemed to be more "out there" than most biopics) just got me more excited. It didn't disappoint at all. It was basically everything I wanted it to be. One of the finest, truest character studies of the year, completely driven by explorations into Jackie Kennedy's psyche. That sounds kind of pretentious, but I do think this film more than any other of the year deserves to be described that way. I would absolutely not be surprised if the Academy doesn't go for this at all, but I do wish it was popping up in more critic awards than it has been. More than any other film of the year it rests completely on its lead actress. Portman is just completely engaging and mesmerizing, and she adds to the film's poetry-like storytelling. Having seen both Portman and Emma Stone, I would be surprised if they gave the Oscar to Stone simply because Portman is basically her entire film and she's also completely immersed into the character in a way that Stone doesn't need to be. The latter's role may just be too light. Regardless, it's a performance to be talked about and remembered.
I appreciate when I leave a film feeling as though there's still so much left to unpack and to uncover about it, meaning that I wasn't able to completely discover all of its aims and goals in one viewing. To me that's the sign of a very well thought out film, a film that will leave a lingering impact. That's exactly how I came out of this. I'm sure not everyone here will take to it, but count me as one of its fans.
67 of 102 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
I'm not really familiar with Pablo Larraín's work. I hadn't seen any of his other films prior to watching Jackie. And yet I was still very excited for it because it sounded like something that was absolutely my cup of tea. Hearing reports that Academy members weren't liking it very much, and then hearing exactly why (because it wasn't your usual biopic and seemed to be more "out there" than most biopics) just got me more excited. It didn't disappoint at all. It was basically everything I wanted it to be. One of the finest, truest character studies of the year, completely driven by explorations into Jackie Kennedy's psyche. That sounds kind of pretentious, but I do think this film more than any other of the year deserves to be described that way. I would absolutely not be surprised if the Academy doesn't go for this at all, but I do wish it was popping up in more critic awards than it has been. More than any other film of the year it rests completely on its lead actress. Portman is just completely engaging and mesmerizing, and she adds to the film's poetry-like storytelling. Having seen both Portman and Emma Stone, I would be surprised if they gave the Oscar to Stone simply because Portman is basically her entire film and she's also completely immersed into the character in a way that Stone doesn't need to be. The latter's role may just be too light. Regardless, it's a performance to be talked about and remembered.
I appreciate when I leave a film feeling as though there's still so much left to unpack and to uncover about it, meaning that I wasn't able to completely discover all of its aims and goals in one viewing. To me that's the sign of a very well thought out film, a film that will leave a lingering impact. That's exactly how I came out of this. I'm sure not everyone here will take to it, but count me as one of its fans.