ccthemovieman-1 (16 May 2013)

Hey, Ollie....Thanks For Giving Us Objective History Lessons!

What a prime example of the paranoia of film director Oliver Stone.Here, Mr. Stone - perhaps king of the left wing conspiracy theoristsalong with Michael Moore - gives us his take on the KennedyAssassination. He makes it look convincing, too. Of course, when youare only presented one side of an argument, yours can sound prettygood, too. That's the problem with this film and the viewers whowatched it, not stopping to think how biased it was in the first place. One thing for sure, to be fair: it's an entertaining film. KevinCostner, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Laura Metaclf, Sissy Spacek,Gary Oldman and others make up a pretty impressive cast. Thecinematography is slick, too, all making the long film (189 minutes)pass fairly quickly.Thus, it's good entertainment but don't be sucked into thinking is thetruth.....as in any film. Remember "Fargo" where it says in thebeginning of the film that it's a true story? It turns out the wholething was fabricated. Maybe someone should do a conspiracy movie about Oliver Stone's films!

(15 May 2013)

Lengthy,and not fully accurate,but otherwise,well done

Throughout its run of time,history,as we all know,has served both its very high points and its very low points. And,out of all of the very low points of history,one of those very low points continues to prove itself to be,by far,the assasination of John F. Kennedy. An assasination that left America in shame and grief with a lot of unanswered questions,people continue to ask unanswered questions about the JFK assasination--something that is resolved well throughout this film.This film is focused around not only around the assasination of John F. Kennedy and the controversy that aroused from the assasination and tore America apart,but also the investigation that New Orleans,LA lawyer/judge Jim Garrison (portrayed brilliantly by Kevin Costner in this film)launched for the assasination. In this film,not only does director Oliver Stone do a brilliant job at showing the obcession that Jim Garrison had with the assasination and solving the assasination,as well as how Garrison's investigation of the assasination kept Garrison apart from his family and the effect that it had on Garrison's marriage to his wife,Liz Garrison (Sissy Spacek). This film portrays both sides of the investigation--the lawyers and politicians who helped Jim Garrison investigate the assasination and how they helped Garrison through his investigation of the assasination,as well as their theories/opinions on the investigation,and the criminals who were happy that the assasination had happened and showed their hatred of President Kennedy,while they were willing to do and say anything to make sure that the investigation was not solved and remained a cover-up. These scenes are as fascinating as they are(mostly)informative,with good information and good chemistry between the actors. For example,in scenes that feauture the character of Jim Garrison with a character like David Ferrie (Joe Pesci)or a character like Willie O'Keefe (Kevin Bacon),good information on the assasination is brought into the conversations in the scene,while ideas about what could have caused the assasination are presented,as well. These scenes make this film as interesting as it is as a good film,with great chemistry in these scenes and great performances. These scenes are good additions in this movie alongside the other theories/facts from the assasination (what lead to Lee Harvey Oswald commiting the assasination,the problems that Jack Ruby's assasination of Oswald caused for the case and the things that happened to Ruby's life out of it,among others)which are fit into this film quite well and do a good job at carrying this film on until its very end,when you are given a depiction of the trial that Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones)faced and not only what got Shaw on trial,but also how Jim Garrison was able to answer some of the unanswered questions about the JFK assasination,and,of course,who murdered Kennedy and why Kennedy was murdered (with all of this being said,it is worth noting that President Lyndon B. Johnson's Warren Commision stated that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman and that the assasination was not part of a conspiracy,but that several people question the accuracy and honesty of that statement to this very day).Overall,an interesting and good film that does a great job at answering the unanswered questions of the John F. Kennedy assasination,and provides a possible theory with the issues and questions of who was involved with the assasination and why the assasination was committed. This film is VERY long (three hours--just a word of warning to those of you who do NOT like sitting through long movies),but is well lead and followed by Oliver Stone to make itself worth its running time. Kevin Costner is brilliant as Jim Garrison and allows viewers to take a walk through the mind of Mr. Garrison himself with Costner's portayal as Garrison,which shows who Garrison was as a person and how his personality was a large part of the assasination,with a good cast of supporting actors (Gary Oldman,John Candy,Brian-Doyle Murray,among several others) who bring richly executed performances to the screen and help the film come to life,with a good understanding of their character brought into their performance,at the same time. If you are a fan of history and have always wanted to learn more about the John F. Kenendy assasination,"JFK" is the place to be,while this DVD has loads of great bonus feautures on it,as well.

Spike6363 (11 May 2013)

A masterpiece

One of my favorite directors is Oliver Stone, who is either called aconspiracy-riddled nutcase or a genius, depending on who you ask. Stone's1991 film JFK shows me that he is the latter. I loved this film. In fact,Iwould have to say it is one of the best movies I have ever seen in mylife.Released surrounded in controversey, JFK tells the story of a New OrleansDistrict Attourney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner), who was so rattled byJohnF. Kennedy's death that he decides to do his own investigation, and ittakeshim everywhere from New Orleans' homosexual underworld to the steps of theLincoln Monument in Washington, D.C. where Garrison meets the mysteriousMr.X (Donald Sutherland).Garrison then tries to convict one Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones in hisOscar-nominated performance) of conspirating with Lee Harvey Oswald.Throughthe film, we see Stone's conspiracy theory begin to make sense, and we seehis attempt to show us, the viewer, what he thinks of this event inhistory.Stone's take on the assassination is incredible. He brings everythingforward to the table, and this is the first film Stone made where hestartedusing his rapid-fire editing style, switching back and forth fromdifferentfilm stocks, such as still photos, black and white film, color film, 16 mmstock, 35 mm, and more. This really keeps the viewer on edge, and itbetter-- this is one long film, the director's cut racking in at 3 hours andtwenty-five minutes. The film flies by us, however, because of theOscar-winning film editing.All in all, I would have to say JFK is one of the best films of all time,tying with Pulp Fiction as my favorite film of the ninties. It'sbrilliant.See it. Now.

Alonzo Mosely (10 May 2013)

Outstanding

People have to look at this like a movie not a historical record. If you doyou will find it is one of the best movies of the 90's. People will bewondering for years how Stone packs so much information in three hours.Stone will do anything for his effect and if twisting history is what he hasto do it is alright. All he is trying to prove is that Oswald couldn't haveacted alone, then there must have been a conspiracy. Look at the movie inthose terms and you will have a great time.

senortuffy (02 May 2013)

Historical drama about one of the most important events in our lifetime.

"JFK" opens with a clip of President Eisenhower delivering his famousfarewell speech where he warns the American people about the pervasive powerof the military industrial complex. Director Oliver Stone treats it as anomen of things to come.I'd seen this film when it was released theatrically and just the other dayI rented the directors cut on video, and there's no other way to regard thisfilm than as a masterpiece of American cinema. No other event in recenthistory has impacted our lives more than the assassination of President JohnF. Kennedy. Oliver Stone presents his theory about the events surrounding that Novemberday, basing it all on verifiable facts that are meticulously presentedthroughout the film. What he's saying is that a coup d'etat probably tookplace against the President of the United States and that it was carried outby people within our government who considered Kennedy a communistsympathizer and traitor. The huge defense contracts that were contingent onour government pursuing a pro-war policy in Vietnam also were a factor inhis assassination.I'm not an expert on these matters. I lived through the Sixties and vividlyrecall the day Kennedy was shot. I also remember the aftershocks whenMartin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated in 1968. Those werestrange times and the American people weren't sophisticated enough tounderstand everything that was bubbling beneath the surface. Oliver Stonehas obviously researched this subject thoroughly, and I find hisexplanations very plausible.Perhaps the best argument for a coup having occurred takes place when DonaldSutherland's character, a mysterious black ops ex-military man, explains itall to Jim Garrison during a walk around the Reflecting Pool in Washington. It's a terrific scene and one that made the hair on the back of my neckstand up. This character puts everything into context, the history of theCIA from the end of World War II through the Cold War, and when he's done,you can't help but feel some people in our government had Kennedykilled.The acting in this film is terrific. Kevin Costner plays Jim Garrison, theNew Orleans attorney investigating the assassination, very well. Hisclosing argument in the trial of Clay Shaw where he presents all theevidence of a conspiracy to the jury is a classic scene. Besides Donald Sutherland, several other great actors take turns playing bitparts: Walter Mathau plays a cynical Sen. Long, Ed Asner plays an ex-FBIagent turned rabid rightwinger with chilling accuracy, Jack Lemmon plays adrunken hanger-on, Gary Oldman is good as Lee Harvey Oswald. There are manyothers but I can only name a few.The blending of dramatic action and real news clips taken at the time issuperb. Oliver Stone builds his story scene by scene, revelation byrevelation, until the dramatic ending where Garrison makes his case to thejury. Only the most stubborn, ignorant viewer could disagree with hisconclusion that a coup d'etat took place that day. The idea that Oswaldacted alone is just plain ludicrous.Kennedy's assassination is the greatest mystery of our time. Will we everlearn the truth or has it been buried forever? I'd like to believe we'restrong enough as a nation to survive the shock of knowing what reallyhappened, but I have my doubts whether the government will ever release thefiles locked up.Until then, this movie will have to stand as the defining explanation ofwhat happened November 22nd, 1963.

(01 May 2013)

JFK Conspiracy

JFK is Oliver Stone's controversial film about the conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John Kennedy. The film is based on the investigation that was started by New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison. The film is a visual marvel, with flashbacks, quick cuts, some scenes in color, some in black and white, all perfectly weaved together for a tight cohesive film. The view of the film is that President Kennedy was killed by Cuban sympathizers and Lee Harvey Oswald was a part of the conspiracy, but was set up as the fall guy. Whether you believe this theory to be true or if you think Mr. Stone is full of hot air, one can't deny the power of the film. Kevin Costner stars as Jim Garrison and leads an all star cast that includes Sissy Spacek (as his wife), Ed Asner, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, John Candy, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland and Gary Oldham who is perfectly creepy as Oswald. JFK followed Platoon, Born On The Fourth Of July & The Doors and completed Mr. Stone's look at the 60's. He is often criticized for his views, but no one can take away the fact that Mr. Stone is among a handful of directors that use film to provoke us to think.

uspresident-1 (23 April 2013)

JFK limo

I am the owner of the x100 that oliver stone used in the movie. I stillhave the car but it has brought me a lot of dis pair over the next 10years. I collect JFK and the x100 is only one item of my many thousandsof fine JFK memorabilia. I was an extra in the movie and I have firsthand photos in the hundreds of the making of the Dallas assassinationscenes. Many of the actors in the car, the motorcade, oliver stone, andmany more all for sale if interested. I also still have the remake seatcover of the back seat used to cover the original seats during thebloody Dallas scene which was shot dozens of times.The car is in remarkable shape, not perfect but far from imperfect. Itwas built from the original blueprints. the movie was probably moreaccurate then we think.

Grann-Bach (22 April 2013)

Very interesting film, but horrible pacing

This film has been met with a lot of controversy, when it first came out; alot of people have a hard time accepting that this might be the truth. Idon't know for sure how much of it is based on facts, but from what Iunderstand, it's most of it, if not all of it. The film is packed with greatactors, however many of them have very minor roles in the film. Regardless,every single performance is great, there wasn't any point where I thoughtthat any of the actors did anything less than a great job portraying theirrespective characters. The film is well-edited, telling a lot of the storythrough flashbacks, and even giving us a visual of things that "supposedly"happened, but quite apparently never took place. All in all, this is a greatfilm, but it could, and should, have been a perfect one. The problem withthe film lies wholly in the pacing; in the first thirty minutes, it prettymuch tells you the part of the story that everybody knows; the assassinationitself, Lee Harvey Oswald's arrest and the killing of Oswald. After that,the plot starts to revolve around an investigation that simply takes far toolong, and it only takes so long because it's filled with, well, filler. Hadit been more to the point, instead of showing scene after scene ofquestioning, most of them nearly the same, it would have been much easier tofollow the film's plot; I'm not saying that it's simple, in fact, it'sanything but simple, but it was made out to be far more complicated than ithad to be. I think there was about half an hour, maybe 45 minutes of thefilm where I didn't pay attention, simply because virtually nothing at allhappened in the film. I don't have anything against three-hour films, I'veseen several that I enjoyed regardless of length(Dances with wolves,Scarface(the Al Pacino version) etc.), but those did a good job of keepingme interested in the story, and the story constantly develops inthem(especially Scarface), whereas in this one, it almost stands still,while we listen to one lying witness after the other, every single lie indetails, instead of just a few lines to demonstrate that this character islying. I just think there was far too much material, however true it may be,that belongs in a director's cut or a documentary than a regular featurefilm. It could easily have been cut down at least half an hour. For apolitical film, this is very good. In fact, for a film by any standard, itis very good. It's just too bad it isn't as great as it could have been, hadit been paced better. Unless you have an enormous amount of interest in thesubject matter, and an equal amount of patience, you probably won't be ableto sit through this. I recommend it to pretty much anyone who's interestedin knowing more about the Kennedy assassination, and who has the patiencethat is required. 8/10

(21 April 2013)

An Oliver Stone Classic

An Oliver Stone classic, this movie is packed with information, three hours and 20 minutes. Based on the investigation by Jim Garrison that ensued the death of John F. Kennedy, it portrays the lengths that one man was willing to go to bring justice to the American people. You feel like you are brought back to that period of time when Americans still believed that our politicians were good people, and devoted to the freedoms that this country is based on. The lighting, the quality of footage, the costumes, down to the very innocent yet naïve nature of the American public. Gradually as Garrison unravels the case, the situation gets ugly and then uglier, unveiling the true intention behind the death of JFK. Garrison is confided in by many, telling him the facts of what they saw that day, evidence that was not only ignored but altered by the Warren Commission. People begin to turn on him, including his wife. This part of the story in particular demonstrates how difficult it was for Garrison, that even though his facts all lined up and the people knew about them, no one wanted to confront the horror of what this meant about our countries' leaders. Stone illuminates details about the war industry, and the policies that JFK wanted to enforce. It is disturbing even today in 2007, that our government offices were so heavily involved in making certain that our president that wanted to bring about change for the better was assassinated because of it. It brings light to what is happening with our President Bush and his war today.

(20 April 2013)

THE CIA DID IT

THE CIA DID FACT ASSASSINATE JFK AND CIA OPERATIVES AND BLACK OPS AS BEING IN INVOLVED IN JFK SHOOTING

shandar_2003 (19 April 2013)

To all those idiots who think this movie is a propaganda.

Its no more a hidden truth that JFK was murdered as his ideologies wentagainst the interest of the Military Industrial Complex.Thegovernment,CIA,FBI and Corporate Mafia were all involved in thisconspiracy.May be this movie has went above the head of some idiots whocall it a speculation and a propaganda or a conspiracy theory.The subsequent expenditure of trillions of American Taxpayers money towage war by various presidents especially President Bush(both seniorand junior) establishes the fact that America is a democracy not ofAmerican people but of American Capitalist Mafia.Imagine how much moneythe American government spends on countering Terrorism and then thinkwho benefits from these investment.

William H. Shannon (19 April 2013)

Sometimes hard to swallow, but absolutely hypnotic

I do think Oliver Stone is a little paranoid, and "JFK" is no exception. Itcombines half-truths, educated guesses and made-up characters to create auniverse where no one really knows who the bad guys are. Having said that,this is one of my favorite movies. The characters are rich (even if theyare just characters), and the logic is laid out in a way that SherlockHolmes couldn't have improved upon.True, Kevin Costner doesn't show the most emotion (or even talent) in thisfilm, but that's appropriate, because we are supposed to concentrate on allthe other wackos that make up for Costner's blandness. Joe Pesci, Tommy LeeJones, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland, and the entire supporting cast areterrific.While it is true that Oliver Stone may not have it exactly right, he provespretty convincingly that there was some kind of conspiracy. And theunderlying message is one of revolution; if our governmental leaders arecorrupt, he says, then we -- America -- have to take the power out of theirhands. Also, he lobbies for the release of the JFK assassination files,which is probably a good idea.This is a great political thriller. Also, if you like "JFK," check out theGreek film "Z," directed by Costa-Gavras.

(19 April 2013)

Kevin Costner,John Candy,Joe Pesci

This 3:00 plus video of President Kennedy's Assasination is a spectacular masterpiece. Joe Pesci does a great job as David Ferrie. Tommy Lee Jones is the best. Gary Oldman is rivieting.

Geoff Andrew (19 April 2013)

Stone goes for the gut, but the complexity of theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination might have benefited from a cooler assessment.

Trombonehead (17 April 2013)

JFK Is a BIg Fat Lie And A Piece Of Cinematic Trash

It is amazing to me how many continue to believe that Oliver Stone'smovie is somehow the truth behind the Kennedy assassination. Obviouslya lot of people are easily fooled, and Stone has made a masterpiece ofoutright exploitation. He is laughing all the way to the bank. But theactual truth is, this movie is a Big Fat Lie and a piece of totalcinematic trash. All the actors who took part in it and helped build upthe conspiracy theory are also guilty of aiding and abetting totalfraud. Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and was 100% guilty. No one elsewas involved, folks!! Sorry but that's all there is to it!! If you wantto go on being sucked in by all the conspiracy hucksters who arecheating a lot of people out of their money, then that's your choice.My respect for Oliver Stone as a serious film-maker went totally downthe tubes after he came up with JFK. The same for Kevin Costner. It'spure, total BUNK!! It would have been far better to tell the storybased on the real facts, and portray Oswald as the total psychopaththat he was. Maybe someday some brave director will do it, because itwill make a far more interesting, compelling, and factual movie thanthis piece of trash.

jason_parallel (16 April 2013)

Stone's Masterpiece

Controversies aside, this is one amazing piece of cinema. One of my topten films, I have watched it dozens of times, and I always findsomething new to ponder over.Visually and thematically, this is Stone's most ambitious movie, and wewill probably never see its kind again: an epic story that forces thepeople that watch it to consider the possibilities of the director'sargument. I have never met someone who has seen JFK and not had anopinion about it, one way or the other. The impact that this movie hadbefore and after its release can still be seen today. Just Google"Oliver Stone JFK" and take a look at what various "experts" have tosay about it! My only true gripe with JFK is the way that Stone chose to display whathe considers the evidence. He took all the theories, fed them through aspaghetti maker, and looped the pieces back together to try to make avisually stunning statement. The end result is indeed beautiful to lookat, but it leaves those who don't know a thing about the JFKassassination feeling overwhelmed. For example, two characters in thefilm (played by Kevin Bacon and Donald Sutherland) were actuallycomposites made up of different people at some point mired in the realGarrison investigation. In real life, there was no X (Sutherland), andthere was no Willie O'Keefe (Bacon). Also, the movie is edited to amanic pace, leaving uninformed viewers confused at the landslide oftheories that come tumbling their way. I feel that Stone did a greatdisservice to the true evidence by presenting the movie in such a way.I am a firm believer that there was no magic bullet, Oswald was framed,and that there was a grand conspiracy to kill Kennedy. It seems to methat those who criticize the movie (especially some of the reviews I'veseen on IMDb) have failed to grasp the facts of the case, and honestly,anyone who gets all their information about the JFK assassination fromdistorted and incomplete manuals such as the Warren Report or bookssuch as Case Closed (by Gerald Posner, a obfuscating hack who has beenproved wrong numerous times) will never understand the facts anyway.It's too bad that the movie does not show the theories in a morecohesive format.That said, JFK is one of the most powerful movies ever made. Everythingabout it is intense, from the acting (especially Kevin Costner and JoePesci, who should've gotten an Academy award nomination for hisportrayal of David Ferrie) to the editing, lighting, colors, andpacing. I can only hope that one day Oliver Stone decides to startmaking daring, controversial movies again!

(15 April 2013)

Sensational work of fiction but oh so good.

How could an overview of the facts and fictions and every imaginable detail of the Kennedy assassination be so mesmerizing and completely riveting? Stone's style of filming and presentation is most likely why. A three hour film featuring Kevin Costner sporting a horrible Nawlins accent and 60's specs and 'do - how can this be good? John Candy in a serious supporting role - how can this be good? Damnit, it is. This is a guilty pleasure if ever there was one. I was maybe 12 when I saw this film in the theater with my stern old man who never let me see R rated movies. This was the first and man, I was dreading seeing this stupid, boring looking film about something that happened before I was friekin' born. But I loved it then and I like it now, though I don't adore it as I did then in my more naive days. I took the film as fact as I think a lot of folks did and the truth is that, while there are shards of fact in there, this is a fiction story and a very sensational one at that. Brazen and ballsy but you must admire Stone for telling the story and making what is really a remarkable film and a great achievement. Again, as with NBK, artistically this is so well made with a great script, dialogue and a true sense of period and decor. Never mind Costner's horrendous accent (it was worse in Thirteen Days anyway). This is great entertainment.Three and a half stars. Sue me.

DadSweet (15 April 2013)

"CONSPIRACY:" The American marginalization of a "time honored" concept.

Perhaps most people don't know, the original script for JFK was based on(partly written by) attorney Mark Lane's book "Plausible Denial." The bookdescribes in blow-by-blow, minute detail the actual trial in a Miami FederalCourt in which a jury agrees that JFK was murdered in a conspiracy. [Isn'tit "funny" that YOU haven't heard much about that trial and its outcome?].Naively, Mark Lane assumed the federal trial (which featured subpoenaedwitnesses who were CIA officials at the time of JFK's assassination) wouldsettle the issue of JFK's murder. I said, "naively."Oliver Stone and Lane disagreed on content and certain characters. Laneinsisted on complete accuracy while Stone insisted on artistic control.Stone won. Lane did not wish his name to appear in the credits to preservehis credibility (but Lane and Stone still parted friends).Having said that, JFK is after all a brilliantly made film. Also, the badpress received by the film was more of the American journalisticEstablishment covering its self-righteous collective ass; taking offense atan effectively executed in-your-face conspiracy movie. Perhaps not sooddly, when the movie was first released the Establishment attacked thefilm's premise (based on "Plausible Denial") rather than its art ... whichSERIOUS and impartial critics had to agree was good.If nothing else, The Warren Commission Report is clearly a conspiratorialwork. As far as the men who murdered Kennedy in Texas... obviously they gotaway with it. Stone's movie is rather mild on that score. But it isexcellent theater and a good suspenseful mystery.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat (13 April 2013)

Thought-provoking and riveting, as both a poltical thriller and a partial problem solver.

(13 April 2013)

JFK - Special Edition

The first time I saw JFK - I found myself all tensed up...wondering what exactly was coming next. I just loved this movie on VHS - but when DVD came out I just had to buy the Special Edition. It's got 17 extra minutes of footage not in the original. Those extra minutes do add to the movie. JFK is a fast-paced flick that will keep you going. It will get you thinking about the past & about who knew what & who did what. Donald Sutherland as Mr. X brings in some insightful information - that keeps you guessing. This is such an enjoyable movie. It will take you on such a ride.