Rent JFK (1991)

Riveting Political Conspiracy Thriller - JFK review by GI

This is a really quite remarkable film and arguably Oliver Stone's best. Epic in scope this is a political conspiracy thriller that really draws you in and keeps you hooked for it's 3+ hours. The cast is impeccable from Kevin Costner, in a career best performance as New Orleans DA, Jim Garrison and including Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald (an uncanny performance), Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci and cameos from Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau and others. After the shocking assassination of President Kennedy New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Costner) learns that the alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald had connections in his city. With his team he begins an investigation where he soon becomes obsessively convinced a conspiracy at the highest levels of the US Government is behind the murder. The editing style, use of flashbacks and real footage all enhances the viewing experience. There's no doubt that there's been a tremendous attention to detail and the use of the actual locations relevant to the narrative including the 'grassy knoll' and book depository in Dallas. The complexity of the story has meant that Stone has had to rely on two lengthy expositions to explain the plot, one by Donald Sutherland as the mysterious X, a 'Deep Throat' styled whistleblower, and the second by Costner in his summing up speech during the trial scene. However both are great performances and in a film like this they work to keep the viewer fully engaged. Whatever your views on the film's claims about the assassination it has to be remembered this is still narrative cinema and in that regard it's worthy of respect as a significant American film.

Top Drawer conspiracy theory - JFK review by CP Customer

Costner excels as the investigator seeking to get to the truth behind JFK's assasination. His world is torn apart by his obsessive quest for justice. A david v goliath tale, and one of my all time favourites.

Oliver Stone's best film? - JFK review by AER

Centered on the builiding of the only prosecution trail related to the assassination of John F Kennedy, JFK is something of a modern masterpiece. This is possibly one of Oliver Stone's finest films about the diseased politics of 1960s America. It's a mindboggling labyrinth of plot points and names, places, agencies and double-crosses to keep following but somehow you can manage it thanks to a raft of great performances led by Kevin Costner (was he ever better than here)? Whether you trust the theory or not, it's convincing stuff when told from the POV of a crusading director who's film is based on two books - one based on the findings of New Orleans DA Jim Garrison(played by K Costner) which highlights the myriad of cover ups and lies regard JFK's assassination. Oliver Stone hasn't made many great films imo but this could be his crowning achievement. I'm certainly going to revisit some of his 80s and 90s films again.

8.5 out of 10