In-Class Write

1. The film Jackie shows the audience what an impact a single President could have. Kennedy was assassinated and his life was cut short at only the age of 46. There are many scenes within the movie that showcase the frustrations that people like Jackie and Robert (Bobby), John's younger brother,  had when they talked about how much more he could have done, given the time. I read an article from Vanity Fair that confirmed how her feelings were portrayed in the film. The article said that "At times, conversations with Jackie were like skating on a pond of think ice, with certain areas designed dangerous" (Leaming). The Kennedy's contributed a lot to the American people and the White House. They renovated it and we're passionate about the arts. I feel like the film does a good job of showing how they would bring the arts to the white house and how that contributed to making America more culturally open to new ideas and people.
I read an article by Manohla Dargis from the New York Times and she stated that the film "mostly avoids presidential politics and policies, grim scandals, sex parties, and popped pills". Dargis said that "Instead it explores the fantasy that becomes that scandalous house's own double: Camelot." Although the film stays away from the aspects of politics, it does show the roles that the people of Congress play when such a tragedy occurs. Bobby helped Jackie immensely by being emotional support for Jackie, but he also had to deal with many of the legal aspects like how to protect the Kennedy family while also having to help the new President transition into office. The assassination of John was a rut in the lives of the American people, but everyone including Jackie was able to move on and become stronger because of it.

2. Like I said before, the film mainly focused on the emotional ride that Jackie experienced after her husband's assassination. WIthout any prior knowledge of the Kennedy's one may not know even why the film was created. The film covers little about what John did for the United States and his impact. I personally found the start of the film a little confusing, because it is based all around an interview that Jackie had with Theodore White. The interview makes the plot move and takes the audience back and forth between past and present. I feel like the film does not display the responses of the Americans to this tragedy. The loss of John was a loss for all of America. John and Jackie were seen as the "ideal American marriage" and the film did not show how America was responding. It focused more on what was happening on the inside of the White House. The film does make clear the concerns that were occurring about having a procession and felt like Jackie might be at risk for another attack.
I feel like the film does not show her Jackie's true intelligence in the film. Jackie studied at George Washington University and was fluent in French. She was knowledgeable in multiple other languages as well. The film shows her quickness to discern any assumptions that the media might have had about here and incautious about her appearance because she has become such a great celebrity during this time period.

3. I feel like there could have been more scenes with John before his assassination. He contributed to so much of how she became who she was. By showing their life before, I feel like it could build up, even more, the fantasy which the writers and directors might have been looking for. John would every now and then make comments about Jackie which were genuine statements and would have created an even more emotional connection to Jackie's character. The Kennedys are well known for the renovation of the White House, which was featured in the film and I wish that there was more about the hard efforts that she took to get to that the place was she was able to show the American people what she did. I feel like showing how she was able to retrieve all pieces for renovation would show the audience how passionate and driven she was to get stuff done.