A complicated conspiracy made riveting in "JFK"

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 1999)

I hadn't yet been born when John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas. I cannot put the actual event into an emotional context in my life. Further to that, I am Canadian, and could theoretically distance myself from such an ugly piece of American history. Yet I cannot help but be emotionally affected by this film.
The unraveling conspiracy in "JFK" is told with such conviction, it's hard to believe that it's only a culmination of theories and accounts rather than the truth as is known in history books. The length of the film in its DVD format is 206 minutes, a veritable film marathon. Yet with it's richness in information, theories and background, and absolutely beautiful photography by Robert Richardson, the time never passes slowly. And despite having watched it at least twice, I can safely say that the mind boggling conspiracies and facts they throw at you could keep it fresh for a third viewing in the future.
The emotional impact of the 8mm Zapruder film which recorded the assassination, is staggering and awe inspiring. The feeling that the American government plotted the death of their own president, illustrates in many ways time and again, as one of the smaller characters reflects, that if they can kill the president, they can kill anyone. They can kill you or I without batting an eye.
I can however, despite the seriousness of the subject matter, share a rather amusing anecdote about my first viewing of this film. I hadn't seen it in theaters, and so I rented it on VHS. My mother wanted to watch it with me, and knowing that it was over three hours long, she was eager to begin, complaining that she didn't want to be up until midnight watching it. Popping the microwave popcorn, she warned me she was starting without me if I didn't hurry. When I came in the room it had already begun. "Jeez, Mom! What'd I miss?", "Nothing, quiet!" We watched the film together, at times my mother would comment on things that she recalled, and I'd have the occasion to ask her to be quiet. Half an hour went by, with not so much as one credit having shown on the screen, I remarked on it, and my mother concurred that it was odd, but confirmed that I truly hadn't missed anything walking into the film late.
Soon we came to the speech given by Kevin Costner as Jim Garrison in the court room, charging Tommy Lee Jones as Clay Shaw as a conspirator, which is a scene that is quite emotionally stirring and powerful. I thought it was incredible. I had noticed that we'd barely crossed the half way mark of the three hour adventure, and remarked, "Wow, you know, you could end the film right there, that was pretty powerful." "Yes, it was," my mother agreed. Shortly following that scene came the epilogue statements and end credits. Finally it dawned on me. "Mom! You put the SECOND tape in FIRST!" She laughed immediately. We both did, but I was pretty upset knowing now that I'd have to start tape one and follow it up with tape two again. She got her wish, she wasn't up until midnight, not feeling the slightest bit compelled to watch the first tape, proclaiming, "I lived it, I don't need to see it again, good night dear." Well Mom, you should watch the first part anyway, whether you lived it or not, because it's pretty darn intriguing. Unfortunately, the DVD isn't Mom-proof either, as it is double-sided.