A few months ago, the first teaser for director Pablo Larrain’s Jackie hinted at a viewing experience that showcased actress Natalie Portman at the height of her game, channeling the former First Lady during a time of chaotic uncertainty in both her life and in the nation’s history. Beyond that clip, however, we didn’t really have any real indication with direction Larrain would be taking in bringing Jacqueline Kennedy’s story to the silver screen. With the release of the full trailer for Jackie hitting the Internet, there are indications that this might not be a typical biopic.
Somewhere along the way, the First Lady was lionized and given a larger-than-life status, which is to be expected. As First Lady, she was part of a very exclusive club of women who have any inkling of what it’s like to be the spouse of the American president. Further, historians have immortalized President Kennedy’s time in the White House as Camelot, giving it a mythical quality that sometimes removes those involved from the rest of us looking in from the outside. Portman’s performance and Larrain’s direction, however, look to add an air of intimacy that has often been removed in retellings of Jackie’s life, making her more human in the process.
Jackie, starring Natalie Portman as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and directed by Pablo Larrain, premieres December 2.