Sometimes hard to swallow, but absolutely hypnotic

Rating: Null/10 (26 September 1998)

I do think Oliver Stone is a little paranoid, and "JFK" is no exception. It combines half-truths, educated guesses and made-up characters to create a universe where no one really knows who the bad guys are. Having said that, this is one of my favorite movies. The characters are rich (even if they are just characters), and the logic is laid out in a way that Sherlock Holmes couldn't have improved upon. True, Kevin Costner doesn't show the most emotion (or even talent) in this film, but that's appropriate, because we are supposed to concentrate on all the other wackos that make up for Costner's blandness. Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland, and the entire supporting cast are terrific. While it is true that Oliver Stone may not have it exactly right, he proves pretty convincingly that there was some kind of conspiracy. And the underlying message is one of revolution; if our governmental leaders are corrupt, he says, then we -- America -- have to take the power out of their hands. Also, he lobbies for the release of the JFK assassination files, which is probably a good idea. This is a great political thriller. Also, if you like "JFK," check out the Greek film "Z," directed by Costa-Gavras.