Top 5 Must Watch Facts About 'Jackie' The Movie

John F. Kennedy’s administration would go down in history as the Camelot era. Following her husband’s assassination in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy became the first person to publicly use this phrase. In an interview with Theodore H. White of Life Magazine, she revealed that the president was a fan of the Broadway musical “Camelot,” which centered on the legend of King Arthur. The couple even made a habit of listening to the show’s title song before going to bed. JFK was particularly enamored with this song’s closing lines: “Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot.” In her interview with White, Jacqueline stated, "There'll be great presidents again - but there will never be another Camelot." The song plays a key role in Pablo Larraín’s biopic, as Jackie Kennedy copes with the death of her husband and the end of an era.

Through “Jackie,” Director Pablo Larraín aspired to tell a story that captured the emotions Jacqueline Kennedy was feeling in the wake of her husband’s assassination. The success of his film would largely depend on the leading lady. In Larraín’s eyes, Natalie Portman was the only actress that could do the First Lady justice. According to Elle Magazine, the Chilean filmmaker told Portman upfront, “I'm not doing the movie without you. If you won't do it, then I won't even touch it.” Larraín additionally promised Portman that she would be in every scene of the picture. According to Vulture, the director insisted that screenwriter Noah Oppenheim cut every scene that didn’t include the titular character. Larraín got his way and Portman’s casting was officially confirmed in May 2015.

#3: The Movie Was Shot Using Grainy 16mm Footage

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Memories and nostalgia are major themes in “Jackie,” as the main character reflects on her family’s days in the White House. Thus, Larraín decided to take an old-fashioned approach. According to The Guardian, he accomplished this by shooting in grainy 16mm, which also helps to seamlessly weave in authentic footage. This gave the movie a gritty, uncomfortable, almost dreamlike sentiment, making the audience feel as if they’re perceiving the past and present from Jacqueline Kennedy’s point of view. Much of the picture is also filmed in extreme close-up, allowing Natalie Portman’s facial expressions to fully convey Jackie’s grief, frustration, and uncertainty. Stéphane Fontaine has earned strong praise for his cinematography, which arguably supplies another layer of raw emotion.

Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy is already being hailed as a career best performance, perhaps even outshining her Oscar-winning work in “Black Swan.” Portman didn’t get into character overnight, however. She strived to turn in the most authentic depiction of Jackie Kennedy possible. Portman notably worked towards nailing Kennedy’s distinctive mid-Atlantic accent, which was common amongst girls that attended Miss Porter’s finishing school. In addition to studying books, audiotapes, and White House tour recordings, she trained intensely with a dialect coach. Once Portman finally arrived on set, she not only had the accent down to a T, but also had a much deeper understanding of who Jackie O really was.

#1: Oscar Buzz is Through the Roof

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It isn’t uncommon for an actor to do countless takes until they finally get it right. Natalie Portman gave an almost perfect performance in “Jackie,” however. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Larraín noted that a good third of the movie was done in single takes. None of Portman’s scenes required more than five takes. For her impressive acting feat, Portman is expected to earn an Academy Award nomination and possibly even another Best Actress win. The film is already making the award season rounds, winning Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival and the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. Portman has additionally earned nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards, Satellite Awards, and Critics' Choice Awards with the results pending. So do you think the film will live up to all the hype? What do you think is the most intriguing “Jackie” fact? For more award-worthy Top 10s and historical Top 5s published everyday, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.