Fox Searchlight has released the first trailer for the buzzworthy biopic Jackie, which stars Natalie Portman as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Directed The Club and No filmmaker Pablo Larraín, the film chronicles the hours and days in the wake of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and Jackie struggles through her grief and works to solidify her husband’s legacy in a presidency cut short. Larraín doesn’t take a traditional approach to the material, crafting a much more introspective, nuanced, and experiential film.
I was able to see Jackie at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, and I can attest that this incredible teaser trailer is a perfect encapsulation of the film as a whole. If you're expecting a straightforward, beat-by-beat account of the assassination and aftermath, don't. Larraín takes a much more thoughtful approach to the material, and the film is more like a portrait than a biopic. Portman is downright incredible in her turn as the First Lady, capturing her grief, fear, and sadness with an impeccable performance that's sure to land her in the Best Actress race. And the film as a whole has a lot to say not just about the Kennedys and their legacy, but how we as humans process grief and how we view our heroes. It's a surprisingly lofty and emotional piece of work, and it's made all the better by an imposing original score by Mica Levi, who handled the unforgettable music in Under the Skin.
Watch the first Jackie trailer below and click here to read Matt's review of the film from the Toronto International Film Festival. The film also stars Billy Crudup, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, John Hurt, Richard E. Grant, and John Carroll Lynch. The film opens in theaters on December 2nd.
Here's the official synopsis for Jackie:
JACKIE is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier 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 psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of "Camelot" that they created and loved so well.