The office of First Lady is largely ceremonial, but there have been women who left an indelible mark on it. I would argue that we have spent the last eight years with one of the strongest, most capable, most graceful ever in Michelle Obama, and it will be sad to see her go. The poise she showed resembles the most famous woman to ever be First Lady, Jackie Kennedy, who stood resolute in the face of unthinkable tragedy. A small part of her story is told in Pablo Larrain's Jackie, with a lead performance by Natalie Portman that has her as the frontrunner for Best Actress.
A new trailer offers a deeper look at the film, which follows Jackie in the days and weeks after her husband John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It was an awkward time to be in the spotlight, unable to properly grieve and with the transition of Presidential powers taking place around her. Portman carries the whole thing completely on her shoulders in a performance I called "riveting" in my early review. I expect in twenty or thirty years someone will be making a biopic on Michelle Obama, too, although I think that role would be a stretch for Portman. Just a guess.
Also starring Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Hurt, Jackie opens December 2nd.
