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Movies / On DVD / JFK
JFK

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JFK (1991)

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Reviews Counted:51

Fresh:42

Rotten:9

Average Rating:7.5/10

Runtime: 3 hrs 26 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Oliver Stone's self-proclaimed "countermyth," JFK mocks the doubtful veracity of the Warren Commission's findings on the Kennedy assassination and summarizes some of the myriad theories that have... Oliver Stone's self-proclaimed "countermyth," JFK mocks the doubtful veracity of the Warren Commission's findings on the Kennedy assassination and summarizes some of the myriad theories that have been proposed in its contest. Focusing on the investigation by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) into the activities of the FBI and other government agencies as well as their attempted cover-ups, Stone weaves fact and speculation into a compelling argument for the reopening of the case files. Garrison begins to investigate local links to the assassination, including Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones), David Ferrie (Joe Pesci), Guy Bannister (Ed Asner), Perry Russo (Kevin Bacon), and Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman). When the accounts of Ferrie, Russo, and others almost invariably diverge from the FBI versions of events, Garrison begins to suspect a cover-up. Widening his net, he interviews many of the original assassination witnesses and again finds little that coincides with the government's record. Combining interviews with an analysis of the physical evidence, Garrison's team posits the existence of a conspiracy to kill the president. A mysterious Col. X (Donald Sutherland) implies the orchestration of the conspiracy at the highest levels of government, and Garrison is ready to go to trial. Stone deploys video, different film stocks shot at varying speeds, and a dizzying style of montage while harnessing the talents of a large and extraordinary cast to create a film of undeniable power and excitement. [More]

Starring: Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Laurie Metcalf

Starring: Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Oldman, Michael Rooker, Jay O. Sanders, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, Jack Lemmon, Sally Kirkland, Edward Asner, Brian Doyle Murray, Walter Matthau, John Candy, Donald Sutherland

Director: Oliver Stone

Director: Oliver Stone
Screenwriter: Oliver Stone, Zachary Sklar
Producer: Oliver Stone, A. Kitman Ho, Clayton Townsend, Arnon Milchan, Kevin Reidy
Composer: John Williams

[See More Credits]

Reviews for JFK

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
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Forget about the history, just enjoy the ride.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
07/23/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Oliver Stone has created a maelstrom of images here. Seamlessly blending real black and white footage of Kennedy's murder with his own re-staged scenes, and working the two together results in a film that can't decide which way to go.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/17/01
Ali Barclay
Ali Barclay
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Stone goes for the gut, but the complexity of theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination might have benefited from a cooler assessment.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If conspiracy theories are your cup of tea -- or if you just like a good yarn -- JFK may satisfy.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Torene Svitil
Torene Svitil
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment 1 Comment
02/25/07
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

A powerful, personal exploration of a complicated and crucial period in American history. Whether or not Stone gets all of his facts right, he raises very important questions.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment 1 Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer

The film's true power lies in its ability to entertain, fascinate, teach and absorb all in one sitting.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment 1 Comment
05/06/06
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Sad to say, Oliver Stone's three hours of bombast did little to raise the level of discussion.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 1 Comment
03/27/09
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

You'll pick it apart later, but while it's going, it's one great political thriller.

comment 1 Comment
10/25/05
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Lousy history, absolutely perfect filmmaking.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment 1 Comment
10/19/08
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

Costner may not resemble the real Garrison much ... but the actor, in a low-key but forceful performance, nicely conveys the requisite grit, curiosity and fearlessness.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/13/01
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is the director's evident passion to expose the deepest, darkest elements at work in society that really makes JFK come alive.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/23/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

... one of Stone’s best films.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
02/21/01
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

As scenery-chewing entertainment, JFK would appear to be an interesting failure.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

JFK is one powerful movie, even if you don't believe a word of it in the end.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/05/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
10/18/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek

A riveting marriage of fact and fiction.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post

No review available.

comment Comment
06/13/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for JFK

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Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black look rather exhausted at this stage in their publicity whirlwind for Milk. The day RT sits down with them, the film has just received four... More...

November 07, 2008: UK Critics Consensus: Was W. Wicked? Is Pride & Glory Proud and Glorious?
This week in the UK cinemas we have Oliver Stones latest presidential dissection, the George W. Bush biopic W. with Josh Brolin in the title role. Also out is Pride & Glory, a... More...

July 11, 2005: Oliver Stone to Direct Nic Cage in a 9/11 Movie
BBC.com's entertainment section contained a rather interesting piece of movie news this weekend. Seems that director Oliver Stone ("JFK") will be directing Nicolas... More...

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