A film that chronicles New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison's investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It explores all the credible assassination theories that have raised the nation's persistent questions, doubts and suspicions.
Oliver Stone's self-proclaimed "countermyth," JFK mocks the doubtful veracity of the Warren Commission's findings on the Kennedy assassination and summarizes some of the myriad theories that have been proposed in its contest. Focusing on the investigation by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) into the activities of the FBI and other government agencies as well as their attempted cover-ups, Stone weaves fact and speculation into a compelling argument for the reopening of the case files. Garrison begins to investigate local links to the assassination, including Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones), David Ferrie (Joe Pesci), Guy Bannister (Ed Asner), Perry Russo (Kevin Bacon), and Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman). When the accounts of Ferrie, Russo, and others almost invariably diverge from the FBI versions of events, Garrison begins to suspect a cover-up. Widening his net, he interviews many of the original assassination witnesses and again finds little that coincides with the government's record. Combining interviews with an analysis of the physical evidence, Garrison's team posits the existence of a conspiracy to kill the president. A mysterious Col. X (Donald Sutherland) implies the orchestration of the conspiracy at the highest levels of government, and Garrison is ready to go to trial. Stone deploys video, different film stocks shot at varying speeds, and a dizzying style of montage while harnessing the talents of a large and extraordinary cast to create a film of undeniable power and excitement.
Theatrical release date: December 20, 1991.
The film began shooting April 15, 1991 and completed shooting July 30, 1991.
The Director's Cut contains additional scenes (some as long as 8 minutes) and the extension of some original scenes.
Shot on location in Dallas, Texas; New Orleans, Lousiana; and Washington, DC.
Estimated budget: $35-40 million.
Author Jim Garrison makes a cameo appearance as Earl Warren.
The CIA opened some of their assassination files in response to Stone's allegations.
JFK Quotes/Excerpts:
"Let justice be done though the heavens fall."--Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner)
JFK Reviews:
"...Effective....Impassioned..."
-- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"...Oliver Stone was born to make this movie. He is a filmmaker of feverish energy and limitless technical skills..."
-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"...Gripping and thought-provoking stuff..."
-- George Kiritopoulos, Total Film
"...Tremendously exciting....JFK is riveting..."
-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"...Exciting entertainment....The film is expertly paced..."
-- Henry Sheehan, Sight and Sound
Entertaining if you can pretend reality doesn't exist I am essentially in complete agreement with the previous reviewer. I don't believe for a moment that there was a conspiracy but I have to admit that this movie is entertaining if you can purge reality and common sense from your cranium. Once you've read "Case Closed" by Gerald Posner you will understand just how inane this movie is and just how imbecilic and delusional Oliver Stone's theories are. Other than that, this movie suffers from the wooden (let's say "petrified") acting of Kevin Costner. Submitted by brianp (Fremont, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Best film I have ever seen This is simply the best film I have ever seen. It is riveting, complex, intelligent and incredibly thought provoking. Oliver Stone is a genius. Submitted by thaliacole (Perth, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
AS CLOSE TO THE TRUTH Thanks to Oliver Stone's JFK, voluminous amounts of records pertaining to JFK's assassination were released. Jim Garrison was on the right track,that's why the FBI made enormous attempts to discredit him,and that's why the CIA tried to subvert this film. This was a conspiracy and
Oswald's role was that of a decoy. Submitted by infinata (Laval,Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
always curious very good movie. cleared up a lot of questions i could never ask anyone. Submitted by waltcooks (dallas, tx, usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Oliver's political viewpoint shows through One of my biggest pet peeves is having to sit through a movie regarding someone else's political agenda.
Though intriguing, this movie obviously was trying to show how terrible and secretive our government is. Way to go Oliver. Burn any flags lately? Submitted by a reviewer (Seattle, WA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Region 1 Digipak Special Edition Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Additional Release Material: Documentary: "Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy" 11 Deleted/Extended Scenes w/ Optional Director Commentary Audio Commentary: Oliver Stone - Director/Co-Writer Trailers: Theatrical Trailer Text/Photo Galleries: Production Notes
Entertaining if you can pretend reality doesn't exist
Best film I have ever seen
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