One of the most important, brilliant, controversial films ever made...the questions linger

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2006)

I think JFK by Oliver Stone is my favorite film of all time...period. I have finally made that decision. I base that on content and the sheer amount of times I could sit through it and it's as powerful each and every time. Although I also might say I am quite biased towards the film having been a Kennedy fanatic and researcher since my early teens. I love Kennedy and the whole mystery and intrigue surrounding his death on November 22nd, 1963. And no film captivates, captures and defines that assassination like Oliver Stone's brilliant film. While being fiction and dealing with a real life situation he makes such a controversial, detailed, full of depth film that it you could literally get something different from every single time you watch it and I have each time. The film should have swept the Oscar's and should be consider THE MOST controversial film because I believe it's the only thing that comes close to bringing out the truth behind the Assassination (that's not up for debate...I'm simply reviewing the film.)
Kevin Costner...some love him, some hate him...I have heard people describe Costner as drab, boring, unemotional, but I have never agreed. I love Costner's films and performances. I think he is an incredible talent of embodying the characters he portrays. He makes them real, he makes the every day guy no matter what the character is. He can be powerful, emotional, subtle, weak, misunderstood, ambitious, evil...I think he's a very diverse actor with underrated ability. I think his performance in this film as Jim Garrison is brilliant. There isn't a time yet in watching this film that I am not so incredibly moved as tears well up in Costner's eyes as he's giving his closing speech to the jury (rumoredly this was not planned but Costner felt the impact of his speech.) Costner captures the era and the important of Garrison's investigation and perfectly shows how this case completely consumed Garrison to the very end. The cast in this film is extensive, impressive and incredible. To name any one person and not another in this film seems almost unfair besides Costner as he is the main focus. Tommy Lee Jones is usually second to be headlined being he was nominated for his performance as Clay Shaw/Bertrand, the man accused of conspiracy in the President's murder and the only man ever to be brought to trial for such. Jones is brilliant, he's always brilliant, Tommy Lee Jones is one of the greatest actors of all time and this role is brilliant but it's a very, very small role. Cameo might even describe it but still he got his nominated as supporting actor and he is a big screen presence and him and Costner share some intense dialog. Gary Oldman is PHENOMENAL as Lee Harvey Oswald. The man is just brilliant in flash backs and recreations of actual news events. The voice, the look, everything about him is nailed and he has a very subtle brilliance and insanity to him and his look. Oldman should have gotten an Oscar hands down. Joe Pesci is also very good (although mostly typical Pesci as CIA contact David Ferrie.) He certainly nails the physical appearance and his performance is noteworthy and riveting. He definitely adds pizazz and excitement to the film with this high strung over the top personality. Kevin Bacon, Michael Rooker, Jack Lemmon, Laurie Metcalf, Sissy Spacek (in a notable role as Costner's estranged and upset wife,) John Candy, Jay O. Sanders, Walter Matthau, Donald Sutherland, Edward Asner, and Wayne Knight are the bulk of the really notable performances in this film. All of them give so, so incredibly much to this film and make it come alive. Some of them have brilliant, detailed absolutely riveting monologues of information that any other time would come across as boring drivel and yet you watch and listen in awe as they list out the evidence. Bravo to each and every one of these actors because they made the most brilliant film ever made.
Oliver Stone is no stranger to controversy. He's a brilliant, no holds barred director who makes jarring and stirring films. I haven't liked all his films but I can't deny his directorial brilliance and this is chief proof of that. He took an age old debate, something that has been rehashed to death and created an intriguing study. The film has less of a story and more of laying out facts in front of you for three hours and he does it with absolute ease and makes it compelling and interesting to everyone...researchers, fanatics, and just the average movie goer. So many powerful speeches, and moments in this film will just leave you stunned and wanting to watch the whole thing again because there is just SO much to take in. Whether you believe the evidence or not it's just as compelling to watch Stone direct a brilliant cast into a controversial film. This is without a doubt one of the top ten films you absolutely cannot live without seeing. It's important both as a film and to real life. For me it's also my number 1 film of all time. Consider that the best of the best. As I stated I am biased given my love for the subject but the film is still BRILLIANT!! Capturing the sixties, the assassination, the trial, the witnesses, the cover up...it's all done with such impressive style. 10/10