Year of Release: 1991
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman, Sissy Spacek, Donald Sutherland, Jay O. Sanders, Kevin Bacon, Joe Pesci, Sally Kirkland, Jack Lemmon, Ed Asner, Laurie Metcalfe, Vincent D'Onofrio, Wayne Knight, Michael Rooker, Gary Grubbs, Walter Matthau, Pruitt Taylor Vince, John Candy, Jo Anderson, Dale Dye, Martin Sheen, Brian Doyle-Murray, Beata Pozniak, Ron Jackson
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
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Synopsis and Review:
The same year he released "The Doors", director Oliver Stone came out with the powerful "JFK". The film is an adaptation of the book by Jim Garrison and Jim Marrs, and it follows the story of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, whose life (and everyone else's) is altered with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. In the aftermath of that dramatic event, and following the assassination of suspect Lee Harvey Oswald, Garrison starts investigating what lies behind those occurrences. Garrison and his team start collecting evidence and different sources of information, which start defining a massive conspiracy to bring about the events that took place.
"JFK" at the time of its release was surrounded in controversy, for the theories that it demonstrated and for the way that Oliver Stone showcased his thoughts on that subject matter. Conspiracy theories aside, what is left is a taut thriller, one that amasses a variety of narrative threads, into a courtroom drama that is filled with twists and turns, all directed with a stylistic virtuosity, that has rarely been that well executed (and that the director has never been able to replicate ever since). The central narrative, anchored on Jim Garrison's journey is somewhat stunted (he comes across as a Frank Capra hero, with his long suffering wife by his side). We never really understand or know much about this character, but Kevin Costner manages to imbue him with a purity and idealism that is reminiscent of James Stewart. The supporting cast is extensive and impressive, with Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon and Joe Pesci creating memorable characters. The cinematography from Robert Richardson is phenomenal as is the score from John Williams. A fantastic film worth watching.
"JFK" at the time of its release was surrounded in controversy, for the theories that it demonstrated and for the way that Oliver Stone showcased his thoughts on that subject matter. Conspiracy theories aside, what is left is a taut thriller, one that amasses a variety of narrative threads, into a courtroom drama that is filled with twists and turns, all directed with a stylistic virtuosity, that has rarely been that well executed (and that the director has never been able to replicate ever since). The central narrative, anchored on Jim Garrison's journey is somewhat stunted (he comes across as a Frank Capra hero, with his long suffering wife by his side). We never really understand or know much about this character, but Kevin Costner manages to imbue him with a purity and idealism that is reminiscent of James Stewart. The supporting cast is extensive and impressive, with Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon and Joe Pesci creating memorable characters. The cinematography from Robert Richardson is phenomenal as is the score from John Williams. A fantastic film worth watching.
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