JFK-1991

Director Oliver Stone

Starring Kevin Costner

Scott’s Review #536

Reviewed December 4, 2016

Grade: B+

JFK (1991) is a very well-made film.

Still, take it with a grain of salt, as director Oliver Stone reportedly took many liberties, and the film leaves much open to interpretation about what is true and what is embellished.

At three hours and twenty-six minutes, the film is epic in proportion.

The film recounts the events leading up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy through the eyes of a former District Attorney from New Orleans, James Garrison, played by Kevin Costner.

Garrison filed charges against New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) and, in his view, was in cahoots with Lee Harvey Oswald to kill the president.

Stone suggested that President Lyndon B. Johnson was involved in the coup, which led to considerable controversy.

The plot is quite intricate and at times tough to follow, but the editing alone is impressive. I loved the authentic, real-life footage that Stone immerses throughout the film.

As we know, the assassination in 1963 was tragic and fraught with controversy that still abounds today.

Stone was wise to make a film of this caliber despite the lack of clarity about what is true and what is not.

I guess we may never know.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Picture, Best Director-Oliver Stone, Best Supporting Actor-Tommy Lee Jones, Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Cinematography (won), Best Film Editing (won)

Golden Globe Nominations: 1 win-Best Picture-Drama, Best Director-Oliver Stone (won), Best Actor-Drama-Kevin Costner, Best Screenplay