JFK: A Must See Film, Rare 10 out of 10, and Want to See More Like It

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 2008)

"JFK" is Oliver Stone at his best.
It is one of the few docudramas I could watch again and again, and find something new and interesting. It covers a single tragedy effecting the United States that is only surpassed by the events on 9/11/2001. I am surprised when this movie is compared to "Nixon", because this movie is far and away superior to Mr. Stone's "Nixon" in every area.
I was only a fifth grader when this event took place, but became more interested as I learned about the lack of integrity in government and the media in reporting history, as well as, the plans JFK had to reform the corruption in the "intelligence" agencies, while restoring integrity to the United States in many areas. I may not agree with JFK's view of the United Nations, but find I do agree or at least understand his decision making based on what was known at the time, and believe his decisions were made in the best interest of the citizens as opposed to the crony capitalists who replaced him, and created our current morally and financially bankrupt state run by banks and global elitists.
Unfortunately, studying the JFK assassination beyond this movie leads you down an unending "rabbit hole" of new evidence that confirms a conspiracy, but never provides a clear picture of everything that happened regarding the actual assassination details. There are numerous possibilities for sniper sites, exotic technical details, and unexplained significant details. This makes focusing on the only trial of the assassination conspirators pure genius.
The story's focus is on Jim Garrison, New Orleans District Attorney, and his legitimate concern and investigation of the assassination conspirators who had recently resided in New Orleans. It also shows that he completely underestimated the power and resources of those opposing his investigation.
He first believes that the Warren Commission and FBI will do an adequate job of investigating the assassination, but finds that the results were either a cover-up or completely incompetent. He begins his investigation three years late due to his trust in the federal agencies based on his experience as a former FBI agent and military officer. He also tries to maintain a low profile until the investigation is completed, and does not question Jack Ruby (Rubinstein) before Ruby takes his information to the grave.
It is a story of a heroic effort to find and face the truth, and to prosecute the guilty while being undermined at every step by the media and federal government. Once Mr. Garrison questions Clay Shaw and finds that he is also "Clay Bertrand", both elimination of witnesses and a multi-media campaign kick off to derail his investigation and case against Clay Shaw (the only local conspirator left alive).
Jim Garrison received little cooperation from the feds, but was able to obtain a near original version of the Zapruder film from Time-Life, and present a case that exposed a conspiracy, even if he could not convict Clay Shaw. Shaw was dead by 1974. One point that was not covered was why the Texas Attorney General or Dallas District Attorney had not done a better job of investigating the assassinations of JFK and Oswald. It is now known that Shaw was a OSI and CIA operative and that the Zapruder film has been altered within a few days of being purchased by Time-Life, a CIA contractor. It is also interesting to note that there is no evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald even touched any rifle on Nov. 22, 1963, so explaining how he was even suspected for the assassination and who provided the police a description are still a mysteries.
Although the movie does not cover all the reasons that President Kennedy was gunned down, it does present most related to his clash with the CIA and the military industrial complex. It also presents a clearer picture of what actually is known about what happened at Dealey Plaza in Dallas including the crowd reaction toward the fence on the "grassy knoll", and the complete removal of all the usual and expected protection by the Secret Service and the undercover military units that would have reduced the chance of assassination by rifle shot to near zero.
The fact that the movie resulted in more records being released and declassified is a tribute to the impact of this "must see" project. The DVD extras are also valuable presentations.