Oliver 'Twists' JFK

Rating: 2/10 (28 March 2012)

Oliver Stone is a very talented movie director and a tad paranoid. This movie is littered with misconceptions and for the lack of a better word, lies. Kevin Costner (one of the most boring actors in the world) does his usual cardboard impression (remember his take on the very flawed Eliot Ness in 'The Untouchables'?) of the 'valiant' Jim Garrison.
In truth, Garrison was a couple beers short of a six-pack. It is fairly amusing that the Hollywood left decries the John Wayne cowboy and Indian movies, and then proceeds to rewrite history with its stirring 'docudramas'. Never mind the facts, just shoot the movie. Hollywood's love letter to Erin Brockovich overstated her role in the PG and E mess. In 'JFK', Oliver Stone points his finger at just about everybody in regards to assassination of Kennedy. I went out of the theater feeling culpable myself!
Which is not to say that 'JFK' is not entertaining. The story is easily one of the greatest 'mysteries' of our time, and Stone's film engaged me despite all of its half-truths. The big problem is that a whole generation of moviegoers who saw this film no doubt accept Stone's version as some sort of historical document. This film should come with the horror show admonition: 'It's only a movie'.
Costner seems to have taken over Robert Redford's mantle: always play the hero. His 'Eliot Ness' in 'The Untouchables' is so noble and good it's enough to make one wretch. Again, never mind the facts, that the real Eliot Ness had his share of problems and peccadilloes. The movie is only interesting because of the Sean Connery character (no doubt made up of whole cloth).
Then again, I have had problem with 'docudramas' ever since the putrid 'The Greek Tycoon'. It's obvious what they are doing with these films, and it's obviously just 'entertainment' but unfortunately, these films leave lasting impressions in one's mind about real people and real history and the end result is the proliferation of lies.
Hollywood seems to be getting desperate. The recent news is that Jane Fonda will portray Nancy Reagan in an upcoming film. What Hollywood doesn't seem to understand is that not too many people are watching anymore. Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher? Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin? I'm not even angry anymore with the Hollywood left. I just ignore them.
'JFK' is a well-crafted movie, but I would not want to sit through it again. I'm one of those nuts that actually believes that the born loser Lee Harvey Oswald took aim at Kennedy from a bookstore depository window. And that he pretty much acted on his own.
Call me naive. The Kennedy assassination was the mother of all conspiracy theories, and she has begotten many moronic children since then. I don't buy into many of them.