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"Who Shot JFK?" |
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Directed by Oliver Stone
- Written by Jim
Garrison, Oliver Stone
Starring Kevin Costner,
Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin
Bacon, Gary Oldman
Distributed by Warner
Brothers - 1991 -
206mins - Rated R |
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The story that won't go away. |
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"JFK"
is not a movie to be trusted. It's one big fictional story passing
itself off as non-fiction. "JFK" is a lie. That doesn't mean that it
is a fascinating, well-made, and engrossing lie.
Writer/director Oliver Stone is a self-admitted conspiracy theorist,
and his outlandish theories on the tragic assassination of President
John F. Kennedy are far too bizarre to take place in the real world.
Many have even been very clear on how offended they were by viewing
it. In order to create the film, Stone has bended the truth, added new
facts, erased other facts, and just made things up in order to tell
his story. Some would call this a travesty, but Stone calls it a
"counter-myth." Is it trashy? Yeah. But it's slick, well-made trash.
"JFK" follows New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, who believes
that there is more to the JFK killing than meets the eye. During the
course of a a two year investigation, Garrison uncovers a conspiracy
that involves the CIA, the FBI, the military, the White House, the
anti-communists, the communists, and the Mafia. The conspiracy is so
outlandish and insane in how it's set up, it comes as a surprise when
it works so well.
The extremely complex story is filled with many twists and turns; the
editing is fast and flash, inter-spliced with old footage and footage
meant to look old; the Oscar-winning cinematography is simply
brilliant; the acting is great all around: Gary Oldman is excellent as
Lee Harvey Oswald, Kevin Costner gives a nice, underplayed performance
as Garrison, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Bacon are fantastic in their
small, but important roles. Also look for many, many, small uncredited
performances: from Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, to Donald Sutherland
and Joe Pesci.
Who should watch "JFK"? Mature viewers, of course. For two reasons: A
young viewer will not be able to follow the film throughout it's four
hours. Also, an immature viewer will be led in by the lies the film
uses to create drama. They will believe all the fiction that is
treated to look like fact. "JFK" is a great film, and those who can
understand and appreciate will find much to love. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
Email
Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
Simply
fascinating... I was riveted from start to
finish. However, Oliver Stone topped
himself when he directed the even more
engrossing "Nixon" a few years later. I
can't wait for his film "Clinton"... That's
going to be a humdinger!
Richard Propes' Comment
n/a
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