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Kevin Costner, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman ... see more see more... , Michael Rooker , Jay O Sanders , Laurie Metcalf , Gary Grubbs , Donald Sutherland , John Candy , Jack Lemmon , Walter Matthau , Edward Asner , Kevin Bacon , Brian Doyle-Murray , Sally Kirkland , Beata Pozniak , Vincent D'Onofrio , Tony Plana , Tomas Milian , Jim Garrison , Henri Alciatore , Jo Anderson , Raul Aranas , Roy Barnitt , Loys T. Bergeron , Bill Bolender , Melodee Bowman , Walter Breaux , I.D. Brickman , Tom Bullock , Price Carson , Gary Carter , Barry Chambers , Mykel Chaves , Darryl Cox , Gail Cronauer , Caroline Crosthwaite-Eyre , Lolita Davidovich , Allison Pratt Davis , Norman Davis , Dalton Dearborn , Jerry Douglas , Columbia DuBose , R. Bruce Elliott , Carol Farabee , Jodie Farber , Jorge Fernandez , John Finnegan , Roxie M. Frnka , John William Galt , Bruce Gelb , Alec Gifford , Gil Glasgow , Jim Gough , Duane Grey , Michael Gurievsky , Kristina Hare , James N. Harrell , Baxter Harris , Harold G. Herthum , Ron Jackson , J.J. Johnston , T.J. Kennedy , Wayne Knight , Christopher Kosiciuk , Odin K. Langford , William Larsen , Ray LePere , Spain Logue , Amy Long , Mike Longman , Ryan MacDonald , John C. Martin , Carolina McCullough , Ellen McElduff , Errol McLendon , Randy Means , Helen Miller , A.G. Zeke Mills , Willie Minor , Red Mitchell , E.J. Morris , Joseph Nadell , Edwin Neal , Sally Nystuen , Ruary O'Connell , Willem Oltmans , Bob Orwig , Christopher Otto , Michael Ozag , Cheryl Penland , Ted Pennebaker , Marco Perella , Pat Perkins , Bill Pickle , Brittney Powell , Steve F. Price Jr. , Anthony Ramirez , Ray Redd , Steve Reed , John Reneau , Chris Renna , George R. Robertson , Alex Rodine , Perry R. Russo , Merlyn Sexton , Michael Skipper , Alvin Spicuzza , Sean Stone , Sam Stoneburner , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Eric A. Vicini , Ronald Von Klaussen , Linda Flores Wade , Frank Whaley , Dale Dye , David Gilbert , Scott Krueger , Peter Maloney , Larry Melton , Chris Robinson , Richard Rutowski , Nathan Scott , John Seitz , Stanley White , Billy Hopkins , Risa Bramon Garcia , Tom Howard , Bob Gunton , Wayne Tippet , John S. Davies

The November 22, 1963, assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy shocked the nation and the world. The brisk investigation of that murder conducted under the guidance of Supreme Court Justice Ea... read more read more...rl Warren distressed many observers, even though subsequent careful investigations have been unable to find much fault with the conclusions his commission drew, the central one of which was that the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, acted alone. Instead of satisfying the public, one result of the Warren Commission Report was that an unimaginable number of plausible conspiracy theories were bruited about, and these have supported a sizeable publishing mini-industry ever since. In making this movie, director Oliver Stone had his pick of supposed or real investigative flaws to draw from and has constructed what some reviewers felt was one of the most compelling (and controversial) political detective thrillers ever to emerge from American cinema. Long before filming was completed, Stone was fending off heated accusations of artistic and historical irresponsibility, and these only intensified after the film was released. In the story, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) is convinced that there are some big flaws in the investigation of Oswald (Gary Oldman), and he sets out to recreate the events leading up to the assassination. Along the way, he stumbles across evidence that a great many people had reason to want to see the president killed, and he is convinced that some of them worked in concert to frame Oswald as the killer. Among the suspects are Lyndon Baines Johnson (the next president), the CIA, J. Edgar Hoover, and the Mafia. Over the course of gathering what he believes to be evidence of a conspiracy, Garrison unveils some of the grittier aspects of New Orleans society, focusing on the shady activities of local businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones). Garrison's investigations culminate in his conducting a show trial that he knows he will lose and which he is sure will ruin his career in order to get his evidence into the public record where it can't be buried again. This movie won two of the many Academy Awards for which it was nominated: one for Best Photography (Robert Richardson) and the other for Editing (Joe Hutshing). ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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R, 3 hr. 9 min.

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Release Date: December 20, 1991

Keywords: conspiracy

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DVD Release Date: August 27, 1997

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Flixster Reviews (3,709)

  • spielberg00
    November 6, 2011
    spielberg00
    The reviews for this film are very good, but I still believe it's a little underrated. The factuality of it is not complete, but believe it or not, this film is still being used to solve the conspiracy.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 2, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    I'm not really big into conspiracy theories and all. In fact, I mostly think that conspiracy theorists are nut cases, and quite often lunatics. In regard to Oliver Stone's JFK, the film deals with the conspiracy that there was a second gun man who assisted Lee Harvey Oswald in as... read moresassinating John F. Kennedy. JFK is a good conspiracy thriller that I didn't expect to enjoy. However I was pleasantly surprised. Oliver Stone directs an impressive and talented cast of actors here. Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones really shine. I won't go into detail about the films plot as everyone pretty knows the story of this film. I thought that the plot was engaging enough to keep you interested from start to finish. Oliver Stone manages to grab your attention right from the start. The cast that star in this film make this film work well enough, and JFK is a pretty good conspiracy thriller. Though I wasn't particularly blown away by the film, I thought it was pretty good for what it was. JFK is a good film with plenty of twists to keep you guessing till the very end. Oliver Stone manages to keep you interested as the film demands the viewer to answer the questions that the film asks. Though I'm not really big into Oliver Stone films, JFK did entertain me, and if you enjoy conspiracy thrillers, you're most likely going to enjoy this one. The cast is terrific, and there are some great performances here and the film is complimented by a good story. I personally think that there wasn't a conspiracy in the JFK assassination, but to those who are interested in the topic; this film will definitely appeal to you.
  • kenstachnik
    September 29, 2011
    kenstachnik
    A great story, fantastic editing and awesome cinematography make JFK's 3 and half hour run-time fly by.
  • blkbomb
    June 29, 2011
    blkbomb
    Jim Garrison: It's gonna be OK, Dave. You just talk to us on the record, we'll protect you. I guarantee it.
    David Ferrie: They'll get to you too. They'll destroy you. They're untouchable, man.

    JFK is an amazing look at a possible conspiracy to kill the president. It is painsta... read morekingly well made. Anybody who complains about the running time did not watch the movie close enough. There is so much material in this film, I'm suprised it didn't run 4 and a half hours. Just like Jim Garrison, the film never slows down. The film does open up a lot of ideas about what really happened, but the great thing about this movie is that it can be enjoyed no matter if you believe parts of what they are saying or not. The cast is absolutely amazing in this movie. It's scene after scene of recognizable faces and big names. Costner, Jones, Oldman, Spacek, Pesci, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Grubbs, Jay O Sanders, Vincent D'Onorfio, John Candy, and Donald Sutherland, and the list goes on, but thats who I remember. It's an amazingly well shot film and it it won the Best Cinematography Oscar. Kevin Costner is electric in his role and his last speech during the trial of Clay Shaw is powerful and really well executed. The film shows us glaring faults in the investigation of JFK and then basically tells us to go find the truth. The film is dedicated to the young who seek the truth. This is Oliver Stones best film by far and the guy has made some really good movies; Platoon, Wall Street, Salvador, and the always overlooked Talk Radio. The subject definitely deserves thought and this film gives us a point to start at.
  • garyX
    March 9, 2011
    garyX
    District Attorney Jim Garrison looks into the shooting of president Kennedy and finds so many discrepancies and loose ends he brings a criminal case to expose those who he believes were truly responsible. The quality of Oliver Stone's various projects has varied wildly during his... read more career, but this conspiracy thriller based on that infamous event in US history counts as one of his best. Some of the "facts" are no doubt dubious at best, but what he does create is an intense and believable drama with the aid of a superb, generation spanning all-star cast. The investigation, although very wordy and convoluted, is a lot more involving than the likes of All the President's Men and the powerful courtroom recreation of the events of that day is absolutely fascinating. At a monumental 3 hours long it is something of an undertaking, but despite the usual inclusion of mawkish family drama, it holds the attention throughout. The biggest irony is that people actually used to believe in such elaborate conspiracy theories; my question is, why would they bother? In recent times with phantom WMDs, Guantanomo and hanging chads, governments have perpetrated appalling frauds and crimes against their people in plain sight, but the sad fact is that as long as they have their shopping malls, happy meals and Celebrity Dancing On Ice, nobody actually gives a shit.
  • gokhale1
    November 2, 2010
    gokhale1
    Oliver Stone's JFK opens with actual newsreel footage of the farewell speech of outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is soon followed by Martin Sheen's narration and more footage, this time of President John F. Kennedy's tenure as President. Also, some specific events are ... read moresummarized which may have led to his eventual assassination.

    Soon after this, we are presented with the reconstruction of the events, starting with that fateful moment on November 22, 1963 when JFK was assassinated in broad daylight at the Dealey Plaza. Kevin Costner plays the then New Orleans District Attorney, Jim Garrison. He, along with his staff begin an initial investigation, suspecting conspiracy. However, soon after, the suspected lone assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman) is killed before he can go to trial and Garrison decides to put a stop to the investigations.

    Three years later, after Garrison is done with reading the entire Warren report detailing the assassination and adhering to the lone assassin theory, he begins to find several inconsistencies and inaccuracies in it. He then proceeds to reopen his investigation and rounds up several suspects, and even charges businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) with conspiracy and murder.

    The film then proceeds to give the viewer a gripping look at Garrison's desperate attempts to prove conspiracy, interrogating numerous suspects and witnesses and to bring to justice all those involved directly or indirectly, including some top government officials as well!
    As he rightly sums it up in one of his statements later in the movie: "Let justice be done, though the heavens fall".
    Needless to say, such a challenging task also invites a lot of flack from almost all sectors.

    Garrison also gets very little time to spend with his wife and kids. Domestic ups and downs follow, and Garrison's increasing obsession with Kennedy's assassination starts to take a toll on his personal as well as professional life. At one point, things get ugly when he starts receiving anonymous phone calls at his residence, and one particularly made to his little daughter. His wife gets increasingly frustrated at how her husband seems to be giving Kennedy more importance than his own family.

    Garrison is well aware of the implications and knows that he may very well be ostracized for his acts. He even gives his staff the choice to pull out if they wish to , as he knows that the investigations could directly affect their careers.


    Director Oliver Stone does a masterful job of presenting us with his and Garrison's take on the conspiracy theory surrounding one of the most devastating events in American history. He makes extensive use of actual footage and file photos from the case and intersperses them with the reconstruction that is the film, which itself is beautifully shot, partly in black and white, partly in colour and even in some grainy finish at times. The movie is long, but Stone does not give us any time to let up and relax, as he has so much material to show; even a little above three hours seems to be so short a time to convey all this! Blink, and you shall miss some important parts of the investigation by Garrison and team.

    These investigations then converge at one of the most powerful climaxes in film, in the final Clay Shaw trial of 1969. It is in this trial that Garrison presents to the court and the public what he feels about the whole case. It is here that we are shown the infamous Zapruder film in all its gory detail and we are also presented with Garrison's interesting take on the "magic bullet" theory.

    On the film-making front, JFK gets an absolute A+, there is no question about it. Stone's direction is flawless, the screenplay is spellbinding, John Williams' original music is mesmerizing and there are some superb performances from Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon. Kevin Costner carries the film well on his shoulders, especially in the riveting final trial scene, where they say he actually got overcome by emotion during his long speech. Sissy Spacek as Mrs. Garrison does well, balancing between an obsessed husband and a house full of kids. Donald Sutherland makes a brief but important appearance in one of the pivotal scenes; so does Jack Lemmon.

    Where Stone disappoints, however, is in taking some liberties in twisting some facts and even creating some fictional characters who provide some of the strongest testimony in the case! This refers in particular to the character of Willie O'Keefe played by Kevin Bacon who is apparently a composite character created for the film. Such cinematic liberties are usually taken by filmmakers, but what Stone probably did not understand is that this is not just any ordinary story he is telling the world. It is one of the most shattering incidents that shocked America beyond all comprehension. It is unfair on Stone's part to cheat the audience like this, just to add more spice to the already disturbing material. People want to know the truth and not a fabrication of the truth. Not everyone actually goes and opens history books or reads the countless study material surrounding this important chapter of American history. So those who don't bother to do that, will rely on knowledge provided by this film, and that is where Stone would be doing great disservice to the people by presenting them with falsified material.

    That aside, JFK is certainly an enthralling movie experience and undoubtedly one of the most important films ever made and shouldn't be missed by any true connoisseur of good cinema.
  • fb619846742
    August 7, 2010
    fb619846742
    Fearless, extremely dedicated look on the assassination of John Kennedy and whether it was a government conspiracy. Even if you think the plot is preposterous when you first hear of it, you can't helped but get sucked in the way this movie is done. Costner's awesome performance a... read mores a man searching for the truth is one that is extremely arresting, not to mention the various cases and counterarguments the movie makes that (whether fact or not) prove to be extremely riveting. The flashback style of color to black-and-white is a touch of genius as far as director Stone is concerned, as this is a near flawless piece with a lot of good actors playing very convincing roles (why did Jay O. Sanders' career never take off?) One of the best crime dramas I can remember in a while, joining the ranks of movies like "The Departed" and "The Dark Knight".
  • ythelastman89
    March 30, 2010
    ythelastman89
    In terms of effective storytelling, this is Oliver Stoneâ??s greatest achievement. The amount of research, time and energy that went into this movie really shines through. Itâ??s not just an erroneous conspiracy theory, but a highly justified examination of our government and mis... read moreinformation regarding political issues. On a technical note, JFK is also one of Oliver Stoneâ??s best shot films. In many ways it is a beautiful piece to look at, regardless of content. The attention to detail concerning film stock, found footage mixed with the movie is extremely impressive. I love how they would use B&W cameras, 8mm & 16mm just to show you different parts of the history surrounding the case. It also has an unbelievable cast led by a wonderful Kevin Costner. Itâ??s completely mesmerizing on so many levels. Even if youâ??re a non-believer, you can still appreciate it for being a great work of art.
  • FilmFanatik
    January 15, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    Oliver Stone makes you question things. He's pretty good at that. This is a terrific film and worth several viewings.
  • 76Majikat
    December 4, 2009
    76Majikat
    My first viewing of this film and from others I am led to believe that even the details of the film are incorrect and almost a conspiracy in itself??

    As possibly one of the biggest conspiracy theories in history, the film is big in terms of it?s star cast, it?s investigation,... read more the content and script with some dialogue running for a fair while without breaking scenes, (in particular the scene with Donald Sutherland).

    Good performances all around and made for intriguing viewing.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 27, 2009
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Sad to say, Oliver Stone's three hours of bombast did little to raise the level of discussion. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The film's insurmountable problem is the vast amount of material it fails to make coherent sense of. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

As speculation, JFK is riveting. As proof, it's bunk. Stone has turned what he considers the crime of the century into a disturbing anomaly -- a dishonest search for truth.

February 13, 2001
Variety

Costner may not resemble the real Garrison much ... but the actor, in a low-key but forceful performance, nicely conveys the requisite grit, curiosity and fearlessness. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Compelling info-ganda. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

A riveting marriage of fact and fiction. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Hypnotically watchable. Full Review

John Hartl
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com

For all its outlandish and preachy moments, Stone's movie is anything but boring.

Emanuel Levy
March 4, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Despite the controversial and verbose nature of the material, not to mention lenghty running time, Oliver Stone's JFK is a riveting dramatizaition of various conspiracy theories regarding the Kennedy'... Full Review

Matt Noller
February 2, 2009
Matt Noller, Slant Magazine

There's something almost quaint about JFK now. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Jim Garrison: Maybe Oswald's exactly what he said he was: a patsy.
    • Clay Shaw: I believe I shall go home and make some etouffee.
    • Jim Garrison: Were you a contract agent for the CIA?
    • Clay Shaw: And if I were do you think I would be sitting here today talking to someone like you?
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JFK Trivia

  • Which actor played "X" in Oliver Stone's 1991 movie "JFK"?  Answer »
  • An Assasin in JFK. A corrupt cop in Leon:The Professional. A scientist in Lost in Space. An escaped criminal and godfather in Harry Potter series. Who is he?  Answer »
  • Which movie did Robert Duvall not star in?  Answer »
  • Who is the main character, has a cameo appearance as Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, and wrote the book that JFK (1991) was based on?  Answer »
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