EL SEGUNDO HERALD December 15, 2016 Page 7 Entertainment Check It Out Film Review Portman Transforms into Stunning and Stoic First Lady in Jackie By H. Nelson Tracey for www.cinemacy.com For better or for worse, timing plays a massive role in our view of films, no matter how much we as an audience try to be objective. Yet, when employed correctly, a movie can strike an exact chord. Perhaps in the wake of the most divisive election in our lifetimes, an intimate look at the presidency and those closest to it is exactly the type of film we need right now. Jackie tells the story of the First Lady, and specifically, her relationship with the American people including the US President’s closest confidantes. Focusing solely on the week after JFK’s assassination, Natalie Portman takes on the titular role and breathes necessary life into a character who had, up until now, been most often seen as just a pretty picture in textbooks. The film undoubtedly belongs to her, as we see her in every single scene--and in most shots, the camera stays as physically close as possible to Portman’s performance. It has been six years since Black Swan topped my list as one of the best films of the year, and since that time Portman has been noticeably absent (with a good excuse---she got married to French choreographer Benjamin Millepied and gave birth to a son, Aleph). In Jackie, we’re reminded of how essential she is to movies. If there’s any doubt that she has the chops for another Oscar nomination, let those be dismissed. This is Portman firing on all cylinders. The film’s question/theme is one we ought to be discussing as well: the line between private and public life in the White House. In the aftermath of tragedy, Jackie Kennedy grieved the death of her husband but was also required to make decisions that the entire nation would watch and presumably analyze. All the while, she remaining conscious of how to best represent herself and her late husband as national leaders. Much of the film talks about legacy and historical impact. Perhaps every President is secretly obsessed with how they will be viewed in the years to come--and because few people know them as real people, they quickly become mythological figures. I recently watched a Criterion Collection film called Secret Honor, which is a one-man play starring Philip Baker Hall as Richard Nixon. If any relevant takeaway was to be had, it is that the US presidents in our pop culture are similar to how Shakespeare utilized the kings of his era: they become characterized icons that are molded over time based on what we think of them. Jackie also highlights the ending of one presidency and the transition to another, which plays close to home given the magnitude of the changing of the guard we’re about to face come January. These themes could not be more relevant today, but even more interesting is this tightrope balance between private and public life that the First Lady must walk with every decision. Great historical films portray an era, yet ring true of the present. Here is one such entry in the story of a public servant forced to be stoic under unimaginable circumstances. It’s not a tearjerker, but in a way that’s the point. Instead, Jackie is an intellectual and emotional look at a moment in history that will never be forgotten. In today’s world, it’s a lesson in what can be learned from the past. I certainly hope it generates as much internal discussion for you as it did for me. Jackie is rated R for brief strong violence and some language--99 minutes. Now playing in select theaters. • Natalie Portman in Jackie. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight. The Last Days of Night By Graham Moore (Audiobook Format) Reviewed by Roz Templin, Library Assistant, El Segundo Public Library Graham Moore, winner of an Academy Award for the screenplay of The Imitation Game, has produced a largely historically accurate novel that dramatizes the 1880s fight Westinghouse, Tesla, and Edison. between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over the lightbulb and the incandescent lamp. Westinghouse produced a better bulb, but Thomas Edison had the patent and sued Westinghouse for infringing on that patent to the tune of $1 billion. Westinghouse hired Paul Cravath, a young attorney just out of law school, to argue that his bulb was different from Edison’s, but that’s not all that is at stake here. How will electric lights be delivered to the people of the United States? Edison advocates direct current, “DC,” but it could only transmit a short distance. Enter Nikola Tesla, who found a way to use the higher-voltage alternating current, or “AC,” to overcome the “distance problem.” Tesla went to work for Westinghouse to perfect his invention, but who will prevail? Betrayals, sabotage, espionage and even attempted murder ensue. Paul tells the story of this turbulent time by interacting with real-life figures like J. P. Morgan and the world of high finance, architect Stanford White and New York City high society, Alexander Graham Bell and the network of engineers and scientists of that era. He even has some romance with his client Agnes Huntington, a famous opera singer. Paul even invents something himself: the modern model for the law firm. He developed the current practice of hiring associates to assist the firm’s lawyers in research. The novel is narrated by actor Johnathan McClain in the audiobook version. His portrayal of Tesla is worth your time. If you are not a fan of the book on CD format, please give this work a chance. Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne has been cast as Cravath, and Morten Tyldum, who previously worked with the author on the 2014 Oscar-winning drama The Imitation Game, will direct the upcoming movie inspired by Moore’s novel. Moore will adapt his own novel for The Last Days of Night script. The El Segundo Public Library offers access to its collection of titles in a variety of formats, including traditional hardback, e-books and books on CD. To check out The Days of Night, or any other titles on your to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your free library card, or contact the reference staff for further assistance. • Visit us online: www.heraldpublications.com Roz Templin. The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore.
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