A riveting mystery/thriller

Rating: Null/10 (20 May 1999)

Okay, so Oliver Stone's conspiracy theories get way out of hand in this film. Who cares? It's just a movie, and a thoroughly mesmerizing one at that. With a unique editing style, breakneck pacing and a huge, talented cast, Stone has put together a masterpiece. Aside from the fact that it stars Kevin Costner -- who's WAY out of his league among these giants -- the cast is impeccable, most notable Kevin Bacon, Michael Rooker, Gary Oldman (brilliant as Oswald), Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, Jack Lemmon, and Donald Sutherland as the informant "X". Masterfully crafted. One of my top ten favorite films of all time. Only two things I don't like about this movie: Kevin Costner in the lead (I've never been crazy about that guy) and Sissy Spacek, normally a brilliant actress, is reduced to the role of the whining wife...which is actually not that surprising given Stone's track record on portraying women as one-dimensional caricatures. Still, all that aside, it's still a wonderful, spellbinding picture.